BIRD CAMERA PROGRAM

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Animal Partners
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06408451
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: September 6, 2019
• Document Release Date: September 12, 2019
• Publication Date: December 16, 1975

Approved for Release: 2019/07/30 C06408451 3.3(h)(2)
6.2(d)
� 1EMORANDUM-FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT.: Bird Camera Program
ORD-5290-75
16 December 1975
On 4 December 1975 a meeting was held with
to review requirements and program scheduling
for delivery of two Cameras for ultimate test at the
facility in late April 1976. Review of the
current cameras now being used determined that the shutter
speeds were too slow to adequately compensate for image
motion. It waS decided to modify two cameras to use exter-
nal battery packs for providing sufficient power to
operate the faster shutter speeds and to take pictures
at a rate of at least one or two per second. These cameras
will be flown on birds in mid-January for, the purpose
of taking pictures of Air Force.resOlution charts which
will properly calibrate image motion, bird altitude,
shutter speed, and film selection.
2. A trip was also made on 8 December to the West
Coast to coordinate efforts with and
to get preliminary estimates of the bird orbit altitude
and orbit diameter. A bird harness currently used by
Was obtained for redesign and for the purpose
of fitting a camera fairing to reduce, aerodynamic drag.
The redesigned harness and fairing are planned to be ready
for the mid-January tests.
3. A third trip was made to see
(an optical consultant) on 11 December. The purpose
of this trip was to initiate the design of the lower
F-number lens (larger aperture) which would permit the
faster shutter speed for minimizing motion blurring.
It is expected that the lens design will be completed
by early February.
4. The results of the mid-January tests will be
used to configure a final camera design to be completed
in early February. Two cameras 'are scheduled to be constructed,
E2 IMPDET
CL BY
Approved for Release: 2019/07/30 C06408451
Approved for Release: 2019/07/30 C06408451
SUBJECT: Bird Camera Program
that will include the low F-number lens and some older
backup cameras will include the lens currently being
used. At this time, �the new camera design will increase
the film size from 9 mm to 16 mm in width. The film
roll will be capable of taking 180 pictures at a rate
of one picture per second for a total coverage time of
three minutes. The field of view in the direction of
motion will be roughly 30� and approximately result in
contiguous pictures along the ground. The increased
film width will result in almost a factor of two increase
in lateral field of view and, therefore, increase the
probability of photographing the target. In addition,
this new design would increase the number of pictures
by a factor of two which results in an overall increase
in the probability of recording the target by approximately
a factor of four.
5. This new camera design is scheduled for final
construction and flight tests by the end of March. Final
modifications and analysis should be completed by early
April. The following is a list of line items which must
be completed by mid-April:
a; Obtain ground resolution charts.
b. Design new harness and camera fairing.
c: Receive initial test cameras and loaded
film cassettes.
d. Obtain fresh batteries from and
configure flight battery packs.
e. Perform ground tests of resolution charts
and mechanical shake tests of cameras.
f. Conduct preliminary flight tests of resolution
charts.
g�
-Finalize camera design and select film.
h. Receive low F-number lens from
1. Build final cameras and test.
Approved for Release: 2019/07/30 C06408451
Approved for Release: 2019/07/30 C06408451
r
SUBJECT: Bird Camera Program
j. Effect final modifications.
�k. Conduct mission analog tests and analysis.
6. It is anticipated that a task order support contract
will be required for the purchase of miscellaneous equipment,
batteries, film, etc. The film must be loaded in a clean room
with facilities for splitting the film to the proper format
and checking the cassettes or film holders for adequate
freedom of movement to prevent camera jamming. Also
at this time, there are several battery candidates which
must be investigated and tested for both reliability and
current drain capacity. Large quantities of film must be
processed rapidly from both the ground tests and the flight
tests in order to meet the program schedule. Movie camera
coverage is advised during both the ground-test and flight-
test phases of the program. It is felt that a task order
contract for the sum of $30,000 would be required for
dealing with these miscellaneous tasks on a timely basis.
Charles N. Adkins
Operations Technology, ORD
Distribution:
0 - C/OTD then file
1 - CEB/OTD Chrono
1 - OTD/ORD Chrono
I - ORD Registry
OTD/ORD/DD/SU/CNAdkins:kmc/2763
3
Approved for Release: 2019/07/30 C06408451
Approved for Release: 2019/07/30 C06408451
DECEMBER
-JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
-
GROUND
RESOLUTION
CHARTS
[ FAIRING &
---:-: HARNESS
-TEST
CA:-:ERAS
LOADED
FILM AND
CASSETTES
BATTERIES
LENS .
DEVELOPMENT
�
GROUND
TESTS
SHAKE
' RESOLUTION
CHARTS
PRELIMINARY
.FLT..TESTS
RESOLUTION
CHARTS,
ANALYSIS
FINAL
CAMERA
CON-
STRUCTION
BUILD.
LOW F NO.
LENS
GROUND
TEST
ANALYSIS
FINAL
MOD.
AN YS:
Approved for Release: 2019/07/30 C06408451