Status Report

Apollo 7 Image of Earth’s Highest Mountains

By SpaceRef Editor
December 30, 2014
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Apollo 7 Image of Earth’s Highest Mountains

 

Apollo 7 photo taken 15 October 1968 showing India, Nepal, China, Ganges River, Ghaghra River, Tsho and Terinam Tsho. 

The world’s dozen peaks which reach a height of greater than five miles above sea level are seen in this photograph from the Apollo 7 spacecraft at an altitude of approximately 130 nautical miles.The 29,028 ft. high Mount Everest is at lower center. On the central horizon can be seen the 28,250 ft. high Mount Godwin-Austen K-2 some 800 miles northwest of Mount Everest. In the lower right, Mount Kanchenjunga rises 28,208 ft. to separate Nepal from Sikkim. 

The snow line on the peaks was at 17,500 ft. In the upper right the lake-studded highlands of Tibet are visible. Cloud Cover 0%. Altitude: 132 miles. Latitude: 32 degrees 02′ North, Longitude: 85 degrees 00′ East. Original film magazine was labeled S. Camera Data: Hasselblad 500-C; Lens: Zeiss Planar, F/2.8,80mm; Film Type: Kodak SO-121, Aerial Ektachrome; Filter: Wratten 2A. Flight Date: October 11-12. 1968. 

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SpaceRef staff editor.