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Technology Development: Future Use of NASA's Large Format Camera Is Uncertain

NSIAD-90-142 Published: Jun 06, 1990. Publicly Released: Jun 06, 1990.
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Highlights

In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed: (1) why the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) had stored the Large Format Camera (LFC) since its first and only flight in 1984; and (2) possible future LFC uses.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
National Aeronautics and Space Administration The Administrator, NASA, should consider using LFC on an aircraft, such as ER-2.
Closed – Implemented
NASA negotiated with private companies interested in using the camera for collecting remote sensing data. However, proposals were determined not to be feasible.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration If aircraft use is determined not to be feasible, the Administrator, NASA, should consider transferring LFC to a museum, such as the National Air and Space Museum.
Closed – Not Implemented
NASA is currently evaluating a proposal from the Department of the Interior, in which Interior would display the camera while keeping it in a flight-ready state, rather than transferring it to a museum. NASA expects to resolve the proposal by December 1995.

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