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The LFC was by far the most capable camera ever flown on a
U.S. manned mission. Hard-mounted in the Shuttle payload bay,
this 405 kg camera, with a 305 mm focal length and a 23 cm by 46
cm. This was the central element of photographic experiments on
the few missions in which they used it. It is probably the only
space payload in which cast iron was a major constituent. From a
typical altitude of 300 km (186 mi), a frame covers ground
dimensions of about 225 x 450 km (140 x 280 mi). Although quite
successful, the LFC doesn't always fly, primarily because it
requires dedicated payload-bay space, attitude-control fuel, and
scheduled time, in contrast to the hand-held photography. This
view of the Mojave Desert in California taken with the LFC
during the 41-G mission in 1984, is typical of the quality
achieved with this instrument:
"http://rst.gsfc.nasa.gov/Sect12/Sect12_4.html"
[Source: NASA]
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