Speed Control, Emergency, IMAX

The emergency speed control unit was available for use with the IMAX camera on twelve space shuttle missions in the 1980s and 1990s. If the internal film speed electronics failed, this unit could be used to manually set the film speed.

Astronauts used the camera to capture film footage for five IMAX productions. The first of these, The Dream Is Alive (1985), still ranks as the most popular of all IMAX feature films. Four of the films were co-sponsored by IMAX, NASA, the National Air and Space Museum, and Lockheed Martin. By carefully training the astronauts not only to operate the camera but also to act as cinematographers to capture both the thrilling and ordinary activities in orbit, IMAX produced films that virtually put the audience inside and outside the shuttle.

Gift of the IMAX Corporation in 2011.