Was the Konvas the first Mopic camera in outer space?

  • Print
Details
Created on Thursday, 20 September 2007 18:49
Last Updated on Friday, 14 December 2012 20:15
Written by Administrator
Hits: 4021

Yuri Gagarin
Yuri Gagarin

The short answer, contrary to popular belief, would be no - the Konvas was not the first Mopic camera in space.

The first Mopic (Motion Picture) camera in outer space did not go up with Laika the dog, who was actually never photographed in space. Laika, who's flight took off on November 3rd, 1957, died after a few hours in space due to excessive temperatures (later flights with other Soviet dogs were filmed, and are often mistakenly thought to be Laika).

 

Gherman Titov with JFK
Gherman Titov with JFK
The Konvas was also not taken up with the first person in outer space, Yuri Gagarin. Apparently, Yuri, who went into orbit on April 12th, 1961, did not carry any still or motion picture cameras with him either.

 

The second person in outer space was an American. Alan Shepard, who's brief journey into space was on May 5th, 1961, brought a 16mm camera with him and took some footage of his flight.

 

The third person in space did use a Konvas. Gherman Titov (sometimes spelled German Titov), who went into orbit on August 6th, 1961, was equipped with a Konvas movie camera - making him the first official cinematographer to use 35mm Motion Picture film in space, and the Konvas the first official 35mm Motion Picture Camera in space.