The Alfred Nobel Rocket Camera. An Early Aerial Photography Attempt
- Paper number
IAC-08.E4.3.2
- Author
Dr. Ake Ingemar Skoog, Germany
- Year
2008
- Abstract
Alfred Nobel (1833-1896), mainly know for his invention of dynamite and the creation of the Nobel Prices, was an engineer and inventor active in many fields of science and engineering e.g. chemistry, medicine, mechanics, metallurgy, optics, armoury and rocketry. Amongst his inventions in rocketry was the smokeless solid propellant ballistite (i.e. cordite) patented for the first time in 1888. As a very wealthy person he actively supported many Swedish inventors in their work. One of them was W.T. Unge, who was devoted to the development of rockets and their applications. Nobel and Unge had several rocket patents together and also jointly worked on various rocket applications. In mid 1896 Nobel filed patents for “An Improved Mode of Obtaining Photographic Maps and Earth or Ground Measurements” using a photographic camera carried by a “...balloon, rocket or missile...”. During the remain of 1896 the mechanical design of the camera mechanism was pursued and cameras manufactured. In April 1897 (after the death of Alfred Nobel) the first aerial photos were taken by these cameras. These photos might be the first documented aerial photos taken by a rocket borne camera. Cameras and photos from 1897 have been preserved. Nobel did not only invent the rocket borne camera but also proposed methods on how to use the taken photographs for ground measurements and preparing maps.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.E4.3.2.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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