Camera, Hasselblad 203S, Sweden, 1997

Endeavour STS-111 n.p., n.d. Flown NASA Hasselblad 203S Space Camera on Endeavour STS-111, With Components, Data Module & Flown Film Magazine! Currently only one other flown Hasselblad 203S camera is in private hands, and 18 cameras are known to be in museums or educational facilities. This camera body and kit components were two of the last eight Hasselblad 203S cameras launched into space by NASA and returned.

Two of the eight were on Space Shuttle Columbia when it broke apart during reentry. No Hasselblad cameras post Columbia accident have ever launched into space. The camera body, HC-3/70 viewfinder, power winder, IR remote, and manual winder, all bearing serial number 1040, were all flown on Endeavour STS-111. The camera was manufactured in the original Hasselblad factory in Gothenburg Sweden around 1997 under contract to NASA. Hasselblad built approximately 26 Class I flight, and approximately 13 Class III training camera kits. Class I bodies were built with NASA certified lubricants for use in the vacuum of space.

Each kit included a 203S body, matching s/n HC-3/70 viewfinder, matching s/n IR remote, matching s/n manual winder, and matching s/n power winder. Kits were shipped to the USA from Sweden in batches of 5-10 each. The camera body is identified as part #SED33110633-305 s/n 1040 as indicated on the NASA camera body part decal. The body contains one piece of NASA blue Velcro, and stainless steel custom flight bracket. The HC-3/70 viewfinder (designed to work with 70mm magazines, and the 500 series Hasselblad camera) is identified with the NASA part #SED33110634-305, and matching s/n 1040 as indicated on the NASA part decal. Viewfinder was manufactured for Hasselblad by Hensoldt Wetzlar in Germany. The power winder is part #SED33110633-325 s/n 1040. The winder bears one piece of NASA blue Velcro.

The 250mm f/4 lens as indicated on the NASA part decal is part #SED33110635-301 s/n 1017. The lens bears a 2005 inventory sticker, and one piece of NASA blue Velcro. The lens was Class I flight, and downgraded to Class III along with all unflown cameras and lenses when they were discontinued from flight use after the Columbia accident. The 203S body was machined from a solid block of aluminum. NASA first launched the 203S starting with STS-92, and last launched the camera on STS-107. Numerous modifications were made from the off the shelf retail version 203FE. One of the more interesting modifications was the power winder. NASA requested Hasselblad modify the power winder built for the 503CW, and adapt it to the 203S.

Another modification made allowed the power winder to be removed without removing the lens in the event the manual winder needed to be installed. Additional modifications added three electrical contacts to the winder, disabling of the viewfinder display light, and modifications to the circuit board in the body. The Data Module is identified as part #SEF33101018-322 s/n 1006 (1001 was the starting number). The Data Module Assembly prints 32 alphanumeric characters along the edge of each 70mm film frame at the time of exposure, indicating the date, time, film roll, frame number, and Space Shuttle mission number. There is no available flight history for this Data Module. It's believed to have been flown. NASA JSC Parts ID tag and parts bag are included. Original NASA acquisition cost was $604.92.

The Hasselblad 70mm Film Magazine bears NASA serial number 1167, and Hasselblad serial number RI 381087. The magazine was Class I flight hardware. **It was flown on Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-86, Columbia STS-94, Atlantis STS-101, Discovery 103 (Hubble Servicing Mission), Columbia STS-109 (Hubble Servicing Mission), and Endeavour STS-111.** (It could have been used on the camera body during this mission.) There may have been other missions not documented.

Film Magazine was manufactured by Hasselblad of Gothenburg Sweden in 1984. NASA has added Velcro to secure the magazine and dark slide in Zero G, a parts ID decal, film type ID labels, and a white label for crew notes. Grey tape was also added to cover the programing port on the top of the magazine. The four pin port allowed for programing the Data Module while it was attached to the magazine in space. The magazine bears a film speed/type/roll# label on the rear. A detailed COA provides additional information on the film spool, and dark slide. Provided is detailed information on how to view all available images recorded on the 70mm film during the missions listed. The original NASA parts bag, along with disposal and inventory labels are included.

Each bear the part and serial numbers consistent with this 70mm Film Magazine. Original NASA acquisition cost was $825.00. Included is a photocopy of an astronaut checklist for the camera settings that were in use at the time of STS-111. All components are functional with the addition of batteries, and film. Data Module couldn't be tested as it requires a hand-held computer data programing unit.