The first camera did not take well to the vibration and tumbling the
glider experienced on the way down, and several shutter hits did not result in a
photo. So with the index out of whack, there's no way to know the time or altitude of the three photos from
the descent, other than that from their attitude and lack of motion blurring,
they occurred under the parachute.
Several photos were commanded as the glider fell, in an effort to use up
the film and get it to wind, but the camera evidently did not start working
again until the shock of the parachute opening. When the camera was inspected
later, the gears were found to have been stripped, and it had to be carefully
taken apart to wind the film by hand.
Oddly, none of the glider's other internal systems showed any damage or
misbehavior in post-flight inspection and testing. Perhaps the difference is
just due the camera being a well worn point-and-shoot to begin with.
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