# Kodak's Lunar Orbiter Camera and the Secret Link to SAMOS Satellite Readout

A historical look at how Kodak's "pre-invented" camera for NASA's Lunar Orbiter program was adapted from technology developed for the classified SAMOS spy satellite. The piece explores the crossover between military reconnaissance and civilian space exploration, and the fate of SAMOS's film-readout system.

**Importance:** 2/5

## Sources

### Technology
- [Hacker News](https://invertingvision.com/2026/08/10/kodaks-pre-invented-lunar-orbiter-camera-or-the-fate-of-samos-readout/) — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 13:52:53 +0000