Spacecraft imaging of planets - Camera systems from Mariner to Space Telescope

The purpose of the study is to illustrate how imaging has been used to successfully explore the planets scientifically. The scientific, technological, and systems background for imaging instruments on Mariner, Viking, and Voyager are briefly reviewed, along with the scientific data return. Attention is also given to the present imaging systems on Galileo and the Space Telescope. A comparison of all these imaging systems is included, together with an assessment of their actual or projected science return.