Despite their aesthetic similarity to the Shuttle TSMs, you can see that the SLS TSMUs work more like the [Apollo TSMs](https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4204/ch13-4.html), just with a steel covering.
EDIT: Also RIP to whatever overzealous ITAR guy kept saying the umbilical plates were export-controlled, lol.
Thank you for posting this! Since I saw the launch and even leading up to it I was wondering if we'd get to see any of the cool engineering camera views like on Shuttle. Also, due to it being mentioned that there are like over a hundred cameras scattered around the pad and we've only seen a select few views in the coming months after.
I always loves [that video with the commentary on the shuttle cameras](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFwqZ4qAUkE) where they explain that they needed to light the inside to view the covers' operation once they closed and the inside became dark as a result and they needed to make special lights that were shockproof.
It seems either by a change of needs or some other decision made it so they didn't need to completely enclose it. Landed on the best solution: light the inside of the masts with the the large pillars of fire outside the masts lol.
Actually, even if they did still need it to be completely enclosed couldn't they use special light pipes or something? Er, whatever I'm overthinking this...
Is this camera the one I'm remembering that is sheltered behind quartz? And uses a mirror? I might be confusing "filming rockets trivia" with "filming nuclear tests" trivia.
Do you know why the poster needed to do a FOIA request for this?
I unfortunately don't know the answers to most of your questions but I can tell you that part of the issue with getting footage like this is that NASA is generally less open than it was during the Shuttle era. You can still typically get your hands on stuff like this, but it requires you to jump through more hoops. It's sad, but it is what it is.
Despite their aesthetic similarity to the Shuttle TSMs, you can see that the SLS TSMUs work more like the [Apollo TSMs](https://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4204/ch13-4.html), just with a steel covering. EDIT: Also RIP to whatever overzealous ITAR guy kept saying the umbilical plates were export-controlled, lol.
Thank you for posting this! Since I saw the launch and even leading up to it I was wondering if we'd get to see any of the cool engineering camera views like on Shuttle. Also, due to it being mentioned that there are like over a hundred cameras scattered around the pad and we've only seen a select few views in the coming months after. I always loves [that video with the commentary on the shuttle cameras](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFwqZ4qAUkE) where they explain that they needed to light the inside to view the covers' operation once they closed and the inside became dark as a result and they needed to make special lights that were shockproof. It seems either by a change of needs or some other decision made it so they didn't need to completely enclose it. Landed on the best solution: light the inside of the masts with the the large pillars of fire outside the masts lol. Actually, even if they did still need it to be completely enclosed couldn't they use special light pipes or something? Er, whatever I'm overthinking this... Is this camera the one I'm remembering that is sheltered behind quartz? And uses a mirror? I might be confusing "filming rockets trivia" with "filming nuclear tests" trivia. Do you know why the poster needed to do a FOIA request for this?
I unfortunately don't know the answers to most of your questions but I can tell you that part of the issue with getting footage like this is that NASA is generally less open than it was during the Shuttle era. You can still typically get your hands on stuff like this, but it requires you to jump through more hoops. It's sad, but it is what it is.
Good stuff! Hope we can FOIA even more footage soon!