TV for Apollo

After spending $20 million to develop a miniaturized on-board TV camera for the Apollo spacecraft and equip tracking stations to receive its signals, NASA officials last month decided to limit its use to only two brief transmissions -- one during the third manned orbital flight, the other while astronauts are actually walking on the surface of the moon. NASA's official reason for the curtailed use of in-flight TV was that the camera (which weighs only 71 Ibs.) pushed Apollo too close to its weight limitations.

The explanation was ridiculous on the face of it; using a camera less does not make it weigh any less. Shortly after the decision was made, however, word began to circulate in Houston that the true reason for the TV black out was heated opposition from some of the astronauts themselves. The spacemen objected strongly to being seen on worldwide TV in the scraggly beards and rumpled underwear that would show when their helmets and space suits were off. More important, they bridled at the idea that TV would enable ground controllers literally to look over their shoulders during the mission, second-guessing their every move.

After the real reason for the $20 million cancellation leaked out, NASA quietly rescinded its blackout order. Thus, during the first manned Apollo orbital flight--possibly late this summer--the U.S. will finally get its first live TV glimpse of astronauts in space.

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