Fly Me to the Moon: Nikon Z 9 goes on an Artemis mission
1.3.2024
Translation: machine translated
NASA and Nikon have announced a collaboration: The Z 9 is the official camera of the Artemis III lunar mission, while another brand provided the cameras for the Apollo missions 50 years ago.
Nikon has pulled off a PR coup: The Z 9 is going to the moon. The mirrorless flagship was officially selected by NASA as the "Handheld Universal Lunar Camera" (HULC). Nikon's camera is part of the Artemis III mission, which aims to send humans to the moon in 2026 for the first time since 1972. Among other things, to explore and document the south pole of the satellite.
However, the Z 9 will not be an ordinary version. Nikon and NASA are completely redesigning the electronics to protect them from cosmic radiation. The camera will also have a new grip and special buttons so that astronauts can operate it with gloves on. The software and lenses will also be modified.
Source: European Space Agency
NASA writes in its announcement: "Photographing the lunar south pole region requires an advanced camera with specialised capabilities to handle the extreme lighting conditions and temperatures in this area. The collaboration with Nikon provides NASA with a space-qualified camera for use on the lunar surface without having to develop it from scratch."
The twelve Apollo Hasselblads deployed
The deal could bring Nikon a lot of prestige, as the past shows: 50 years ago, Hasselblad produced the moon cameras - a history that the Swedish manufacturer is proud of to this day and which it markets accordingly. The astronauts each had a Hasselblad 500EDC with them. They took iconic pictures in the square format (to the image archive).
Source: NASA
Most of the Hasselblad 500EDCs are still on the moon today. 12 of the 14 cameras were left behind so that there was enough space for rock samples on the return flight. Only the film magazines came with them. Will the Nikon cameras suffer the same martyr's fate?
Header image: NASA / Bill Stafford
Samuel Buchmann
Senior Editor
Samuel.Buchmann@digitecgalaxus.chMy fingerprint often changes so drastically that my MacBook doesn't recognise it anymore. The reason? If I'm not clinging to a monitor or camera, I'm probably clinging to a rockface by the tips of my fingers.
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