NASA MSFC Mission Operations Laboratory MSFC NASA MSFC Mission Operations Laboratory 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 Page 2 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

NASA MSFC Mission Operations Laboratory MSFC Page 3 NASA early use of 4K  After Columbia accident NASA started looking at high- speed, 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

NASA MSFC Mission Operations Laboratory MSFC Page 4 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

NASA MSFC Mission Operations Laboratory MSFC Page 5 Industry Status  4K+ options improving  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

NASA MSFC Mission Operations Laboratory MSFC Page 6 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

NASA MSFC Mission Operations Laboratory MSFC Page 7 Example of bayer pattern artifacts “Sparklers” should be white

NASA MSFC Mission Operations Laboratory MSFC Page 8 4K Testing at KSC  Advanced Imaging Lab (AIL) began 4K testing at KSC in  STS 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

NASA MSFC Mission Operations Laboratory MSFC Page 9 Stereoscopic 4K from STS-131 Sample 4K 3D from Camera Site 3 (CS-3) Advanced Imaging Lab

NASA MSFC Mission Operations Laboratory MSFC Page 10 RED ONE 4K During STS-133 AIL tracker 2.93 mi (UCS- 3) Advanced Imaging Lab

NASA MSFC Mission Operations Laboratory MSFC Page 11 RED ONE 4K During STS-134  Approximately 1,300ft from Vehicle (CS2) – 500mm Lens Advanced Imaging Lab

NASA MSFC Mission Operations Laboratory MSFC Page 12 RED ONE 4K During STS-135 Advanced Imaging Lab Approx. 1,300ft CS-4 Approx. 550ft

NASA MSFC Mission Operations Laboratory MSFC Page 13 Comparison of Imagery  Orbiter Flag taken from Launch Footage E040 16mm film Film-to-HD transfer E040 16mm film Engineering scan EE045 Phantom HD Gold HSD 2K frame Approximately 70ft from Vehicle On Fixed Service Structure RED ONE STS K CS- 2 Approximately 1,300ft from Vehicle (see top pic previous slide)

NASA MSFC Mission Operations Laboratory MSFC Page 14 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