posted 02-13-2023 12:11 PM               

Unlike a previous thread regarding the first color photo of the full Earth from space (ATS 1967), this regards the rediscovery of the first color photos of Earth from space ever (100 mile altitude), which were originally recorded on 16mm film that was carried into space on an Aerobee rocket launched from White Sands Proving Ground in NM on October 5, 1954.

I am in the process of having the 1954 film and negatives of Dr. Berg scanned. I am correcting and restoring these and will soon have the very first high-resolution images and much more to reveal!

posted 02-24-2023 12:15 PM               

The 16mm film itself (and copies) have more color detail and I will be having each frame individually scanned at 4K to produce the best images and "movie" possible – so look for that in coming months – but for now, these are the best first color photos of Earth available:

Frame 20 of the Berg film showing the first view of Earth's horizon in color.

Frame 20 doesn't show much of the horizon or curvature though. Frame 21 of the Berg film shows more of the Earth's horizon in color, thus revealing much more curvature (and makes for a better "first color photo of Earth from space" photo…). Note the emulsion flaw is on the original film and I did not try to remove that because it is historical and trying to remove it would have altered the clouds too much.

but technically (and accurately speaking) the first color image of Earth from space is actually this one – frame 2 of the Berg film (frame 1 is only a partial frame)