When Apollo 11 left for the moon 50 years ago, one tool was essential in witnessing how history was made – the Hasselblad camera attached to Neil Armstrong’s chest. Without it we wouldn’t be able to see all those icon images, but like all cameras used in moon landing projects, the camera’s body and lens were left on the moon to meet barrow weight margins for returning. Now photographer Cole Rise has completed a challenging project of re-making the Apollo 11 Hasselblad.

The significant camera involved was a Hasselblad Data Camera fitted with a Zeiss Biogon 60mm ƒ/5,6 lens. The 70mm film magazine contained specially formulated thin-base Kodak film for up to 200 images each time, while the camera itself was specifically designed for functioning on the lunar surface. For example, the body was painted silver to stabilise the camera when shooting in extreme temperatures ranging from -65°C to over 120°C. Special components such as the réseau plate were not commonly found in other commercial Hasselblads.

Cole Rise has successfully completed the Apollo 11 Hasselblad replica and it’s currently on display in Paris. The re-making process is being made into a documentary coming next year. In the meantime, you can check out the detail of his other project, the re-making of Hasselblad 500C used in Mercury project in 1962, on his website.