Richard W. Underwood, a distinguished figure in the realm of space photography, had a career marked by innovation and dedication to capturing the cosmos. Before his tenure at NASA, Underwood served in the Navy during World War II, where he honed his skills in aerial photographic surveys. This experience laid the groundwork for his transition to NASA, where he would become a pivotal force in shaping the agency's approach to space photography. As a supervisory aerospace technologist at NASA, Underwood was instrumental in preparing astronauts for photographic missions in space. Despite facing skepticism from some quarters about the value of space photography, he persisted in training astronauts to take exceptional photos. His efforts were crucial during the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab missions, where he oversaw the adaptation of Hasselblad cameras for the space environment. These modifications were vital for documenting the missions and contributed significantly to the development of the space program. Underwood's commitment extended beyond training; he was deeply involved in the processing and analysis of the photographs taken during missions. He worked closely with scientists, handling unusual requests for photo analysis and overcoming technical challenges, such as the incident with overexposed film during the Apollo 8 mission. His collaboration with industry partners like Eastman Kodak was essential in developing film from Apollo missions, and he was instrumental in using advanced U-2 type cameras on Apollo 15, 16, and 17 for lunar mapping. Underwood's legacy includes not only the stunning images that have shaped public perception of space but also his candid reflections on the Soviet Union's approach to space photography and the unique leadership and teamwork that characterized NASA during the Apollo era. His frustration with missed photographic opportunities and areas of the world left unphotographed underscores his passion for the field. Richard Underwood's career is a testament to the critical role of human ingenuity in exploring space.

Scope and Content Note
This interview with Richard W. Underwood offers an in-depth look into his extensive career in space photography, particularly during his tenure at NASA. Underwood begins by recounting his military service in the Navy during World War II, where he developed expertise in aerial photographic surveys. He then describes his transition to NASA and the pivotal moment when the agency's attitude towards space photography evolved, recognizing its significance. Underwood covers the challenges and triumphs of space photography across the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab missions. He details the technical modifications to the Hasselblad cameras for space use and underscores the importance of photography in documenting and advancing the space program. His role as a supervisory aerospace technologist involved training astronauts in photographic techniques despite initial skepticism about the value of such endeavors. The interview sheds light on the meticulous process of handling and analyzing space photographs, including interactions with scientists and the handling of unique requests. Underwood shares anecdotes, such as identifying a UFO sighting and resolving issues with overexposed film during Apollo 8. Underwood emphasizes the importance of collaboration, particularly with Eastman Kodak, in developing film from Apollo missions and implementing U-2-type cameras for lunar mapping. He reflects on the impact of space imagery on public perception and the stark contrast between American and Soviet approaches to space photography. Finally, Underwood offers personal insights into the limitations and missed opportunities in space photography, the value of human involvement, and his pride in contributing to the Apollo Project. He expresses frustration over unphotographed regions and the potential loss of valuable data. The interview concludes with Underwood's thoughts on the dissemination of space images online, the unique leadership and teamwork during the Apollo era, and the portrayal of space missions in cinema.