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Was analogue 35 mm camera Olympus OM-1 really in space? I read this article about this topic: http://elrectanguloenlamano.blogspot.com/2016/06/olympus-om-1-nasa-recognition-of.html?m=1

According to the article, 5 pieces of Olympus OM1 space prototype cameras were made and 3 of them were given to NASA. These cameras were ordered by Nasa to be used on Columbia space shuttle in 1981 and also on subsequent missions. My question is: were these Olympus cameras really used on Columbia missions? Maybe Nasa ordered them from Olympus, but they later changed their minds and used another cameras. I know about Hasseblads and Nikons in space. I know Leica and Minolta Hi-matic were first cameras in space. But I never heard about Olympus OM-1. Does anyone know more about it? Do you know some books or articles about analogue photography in space? Thanks.

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  • $\begingroup$ Here are two links: filmphotograph.com/olympus-om-1-nasa-1980 historical.ha.com/itm/explorers/space-exploration/… seems to be trustworthy $\endgroup$
    – Uwe
    Sep 7, 2022 at 10:22
  • $\begingroup$ It's a bit weird that Goddard would be buying cameras for shuttle though, unless they were associated with Hubble somehow. $\endgroup$
    – Organic Marble
    Sep 7, 2022 at 11:44
  • $\begingroup$ This inflight photo shows the camera equipment for the first Hubble mission. Perhaps someone knowledgeable can ID the cameras. images-assets.nasa.gov/image/s31-06-035/s31-06-035~orig.jpg $\endgroup$
    – Organic Marble
    Sep 7, 2022 at 13:15
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    $\begingroup$ on the inflight photo some Hasselblad film magazines are easy to identify. There is a Sony audio cassette recorder and a light meter to get optimal exposure with the Hasselblads without an internal light meter. There is a binocular telescope but I see nothing that looks like a 35 mm OM-1. $\endgroup$
    – Uwe
    Sep 7, 2022 at 14:25
  • $\begingroup$ Thanks for reply!I don't know why it is weird that Goddard bought Olympus Cameras? (I am a photographer, I don't understand engineering).I think they didn't have these cameras for scientific purpose. They have them for documenting themselves. There are just Hasselblads on inflight photo from Hubble mission - but the Olympus is missing here maybe because THIS photo of Hasselblad magazines was made on Olympus. It has a format of 35 mm camera. The photos from 1981 mission (for examp. astronaut Cripen floating in space) have also 35 mm format, but I am not sure, that they were made on Olympus $\endgroup$
    – Eliška Koryntová
    Sep 9, 2022 at 15:10

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