UPWARD was the code name, within the National Reconnaissance Office's Byeman Control System, for assistance given to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) during the Apollo program.[1] [2] [3] The camera designed to survey the lunar surface was a modification of the GAMBIT design and utilized a 1.5inches focal length camera for a terrain mapping apparatus. This camera system was present on both the CORONA and GAMBIT survey systems.[4]
The NRO and NASA had multiple meetings discussing the required technology for Lunar Mapping. Specifically, the NASA Apollo Applicant Working Group (dated on 6-9 December 1966) considered the following optical sensors:
In a following meeting on 31 January 1967, NASA stated at the DoD-NASA Survey Applications Coordinating Committee that "there are no sensors other than LM&SS for flight on AAP-1 [the first [[Apollo Applications Program]] mission]."[4]
According to the NRO/NASA agreement, lunar photography could be sanitized by eliminating camera scale factors. The project had the unclassified name of Lunar Mapping and Survey System (LM&SS) in NASA channels.
The success of both Lunar Orbiter and Surveyor negated the use of the LM&SS system. There are no recorded spaceflights with these systems. NASA terminated all activity associated with hardware and software procurement, development, and testing for LM&SS on August 2, 1967.[5]