In 1966 and 1967, NASA deployed five Lunar Orbiters to map the Moon for Apollo landing sites, capturing unprecedented photographic detail using a camera system built by Eastman Kodak. The camera's origins trace back to the 1950s when Kodak developed it for the classified Air Force surveillance program WS-117L. Although Kodak director of R&D Arthur Simmons claimed the company had "pre-invented" the system, the technology was actually repurposed from earlier military contracts. The camera used onboard film processing and electronic transmission via a flying-spot scanner developed with CBS Laboratories. Key innovations included Kodak's "Bimat" film, which enabled dry processing in space, and an "inside-out CRT" scanner that read images electronically. These technologies, initially explored for real-time satellite surveillance, were adapted for lunar exploration, marking early U.S. attempts at space-based imaging.

The system's development began in 1953 after RAND studies validated satellite surveillance feasibility. By 1955, the Air Force launched WS-117L, awarding Kodak a contract in 1956. While television systems were initially favored for near real-time imaging, film recovery proved more reliable. Kodak's solution involved processing exposed 70mm film onboard and transmitting images via electronic readout, a technique later crucial for the Lunar Orbiter missions.

Engineer David Mc Dowell recalled that Bimat film development began specifically for the E-1 and E-2 camera prototypes, as processing film in orbit was essential. This adaptation of military technology for civilian space exploration highlights the intersection of Cold War surveillance efforts and lunar science.