NASA MSFC
Mission Operations Laboratory
MSFC
NASA & 4K
Current & Future
Applications
Rodney Grubbs
Marshall Space Flight Center
With contributions from Kennedy Space Center’s Advanced
Imaging Laboratory
NASA MSFC
Mission Operations Laboratory
MSFC
What is 4K?
 4k, Digital Cinema, UHDTV
 Technical definitions & resolutions
 Digital Cinema uses k, as in 4k & 8k
 4k resolution is 4096 x 2160, 8k is 8192 x 4320
 Television resolutions for 4k & 8K use UHDTV
 The UHDTV resolution is in multiples of 1920 x 1080
 4k TV is UHDTV-1, 3840 x 2160, also called 2160p
 4x 1080p
 8k TV is UHDTV-2, 7680 x 4320, also called 4320p
 16x 1080p
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NASA early use of 4K
 After Columbia accident NASA started looking at highspeed, high-resolution digital cameras as possible
replacement for film cameras for Shuttle launch
documentation
 Lack of standards, proprietary formats and reliance on
spinning disks for recording hindered use beyond
experiments
 Red One digital cinema cameras purchased to document
historic events, end of the Shuttle program
 Archival, most footage down-converted to HD for release and
original files stored for future use
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Early lessons learned
 Engineering uses
 Spinning disks lock up in extreme weather and pressure
environments
 Use flash or solid state drives
 Bayer pattern sensors introduce unique artifacts
 Dynamic range not up to film standards
 3D possible but required precise camera mounts & control
 Documentation uses
 What frame rate to use?
 Shooting 24 fps requires different shooting style vs. documentary
style video shooting
 Shallow depth-of-field produces different look that is noticeable if
footage is intercut with regular video footage
 Full 4K work flows were difficult to implement and often “beta”
quality
 Very difficult to shoot, edit, distribute and display in 4K
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Industry Status
 4K+ options improving
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DSLR’s can shoot 4K
Smaller, less expensive, more options from vendors
Better dynamic range
More options for work flows and playback
Monitors getting less expensive
HDMI supports 4K (sort of)
Resolutions expanding to 5K+
 Use by broadcasters for sports coverage pushes innovation
and creates more tools and applications at lower prices
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NASA Applications
 Replacement for film applications
 “Big-Sky” or large field-of-view coverage for launches and other
dynamic events
 Ability to digitally “zoom” into static wide shot
 2-in-1 capability allows combining functionality of film and video
cameras
 4K+ recording at high frame rate can replace high-speed film
camera
 Live HD output from same camera can replace dedicated HD video
camera
 Big screen space-based documentaries
 IMAX film cameras can no longer be used in space due to lack of
return vehicles since retirement of Shuttle
 Digital work flow allows file downloads or use of small memory
cards instead of large, heavy film magazines
 Proxies or down converted previews provide assurance the desired
shots were obtained vs. waiting for film return and processing
 Historic documentation for use today and by future film-makers
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Example of bayer pattern artifacts
“Sparklers” should be white
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4K Testing at KSC
 Advanced Imaging Lab (AIL) began 4K testing at KSC in
2010.
 STS-131 - 10 RED ONE cameras in 5 locations as
stereoscopic (3D) pairs at 4K resolution.
Composite of
concurrent
RED ONE
images from
five camera
sites.
Advanced Imaging
Lab
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Mission Operations Laboratory
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Stereoscopic 4K from STS-131
Sample 4K 3D from Camera Site 3 (CS-3)
Advanced Imaging
Lab
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Mission Operations Laboratory
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RED ONE 4K During STS-133
AIL tracker
1000mm @
2.93 mi (UCS3)
Advanced Imaging
Lab
NASA MSFC
Mission Operations Laboratory
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RED ONE 4K During STS-134
 Approximately 1,300ft from Vehicle (CS2) – 500mm
Lens
Advanced Imaging
Lab
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Mission Operations Laboratory
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RED ONE 4K During STS-135
CS-2 @ Approx.
1,300ft
CS-4 Infield @
Approx. 550ft
Advanced Imaging
Lab
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Mission Operations Laboratory
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Comparison of Imagery
 Orbiter Flag taken from Launch Footage
E040 16mm film
Film-to-HD
transfer
E040 16mm film
Engineering scan
Approximately 70ft from Vehicle
On Fixed Service Structure
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EE045 Phantom
HD Gold HSD 2K
frame
RED ONE STS135
4K frame @ CS2
Approximately 1,300ft from
Vehicle
(see top pic previous slide)
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What’s next for NASA & 4K
 Monitoring adoption of UHDTV-1 for possible expansion of
NASA TV
 NASA TV is primarily a “wholesaler” to media television
outlets…if they adopt UHDTV-1 in the future NASA will need
to provide feeds in that format
 The demise of film will require use of 4K+ cameras with
high dynamic range and high frame rates for engineering
purposes
 Trying to “future-proof” new infrastructure for post-shuttle era
launch pads
 Fiber optic based communications
 Expandable routers
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