This is a really excellent video showing how JPL engineers and technicians designed, built and tested the first video camera system sent to Mars.
— It was essentially a Slow Scan TV system built around a Vidicon tube.
— Data was sent back in digital form.
— The first Digital-Analog conversion was done using COLORED CHALK!
— The method used to protect the Vidicon tube from vibration was derived from the packing material used to mail the tube to JPL from Texas.
— During testing, JPL had all the circuitry spread out in what we would call “Al Fresco” style.
Thanks to Dan Maloney at Hack-A-Day for alerting us to this. Dan has an excellent article about the mission here: