Re: Parkes hi-resTV tapes of Apollo 11 surface activity

From: Andy C (remoteneeded_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 07/24/04 

Date: Sun, 25 Jul 2004 00:28:27 +0100

> > I have to wonder what modern image processing techniques could do
> > with the SSTV images.
>
> There was a lot of loss of resolution in the crude system used them.
> These days the conversion could be made with no perceptible loss of
> resolution, and probably enhanced to look even better. I'm sure the
> extra 50 frames per second could be interpolated for a very smooth
> final product.
> --
> Gene Seibel
> http://pad39a.com/gene/broadcast.html
> Because I fly, I envy no one.

I agree Gene. I work for a major British broadcaster and I have often
discussed with my colleagues just how we would go about re-scan-converting
the pictures and whether it would be worth doing so, (the answer is yes!).
It would actually be possible to store it in its original 320 line, 10FPS
state, but digitally, such that the most historic television footage of all
time could be easily converted to any current or future television format,
(remember Gene that we in the UK are currently interested in having a 50Hz
version and that soon you may not want 60Hz). Some time ago I had an email
conversation with John Sarkissian from Parkes as to his thoughts about it.
If I remember correctly he said that NASA still had the tapes but that they
had no way to play them, let alone any way to scan-convert them. John also
said that he thought it was possible that Neil had said "One small step for
'A' man...", but that the 'A' had got lost by some earth-bound drop-out /
noise. If this were the case then the tapes may well be without any such
glitch. Shortly after I spoke to him was September 11th, NASA closed their
doors, and I put any ideas of restoring this footage to the back of my mind.
I do not have any contacts within NASA, but I do have the necessary
expertise and contacts to restore the footage. The 40th anniversary is only
five years away which, knowing how long these things can take to sort out,
would be a great thing to aim for.

Andy C

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