In 1991, NASA sent out a hacked Nikon F3 with a Kodak digital back out into space. The camera was called the Kodak Hawkeye II. I was born in 1993 and even in that time, this kind of technology was almost unheard of.
Phoblographer posted some interesting thoughts on this topic by bringing up facts like in 1991 most computers were still using floppy discs and even hard drives barely were able to store a single gigabyte of data. This really helps put the technology into perspective for the time. Having to put together an actual DSLR was an achievement of its own. On top of having to make this camera, they had to make sure it would be able to go into space, which it did.
Why didn't NASA just take a regular film camera, which were popular during the times? There could be a LOT of different answers but the most talked about one was simply to save time and make the job of taking the pictures easier. In trips prior to this one, film cameras were brought into space. Though, the crew would have to wait until arrival back on Earth to see how the shots turned out. With the DSLR, they were able to view the images on the spot to make sure they returned with the shots they were asked to take or wanted to have.
Wonder how much this camera cost? In the 1990's with the equipment in the body, you would be looking at spending approximately $20,000.00! You can view some great shots of the camera shared by Jim McGarvey on eocamera.jemcgarvey.com here.
Below is some footage of the very first DSLR camera, the Kodak Hawkeye II, being used by NASA. NikonRumors shared it recently and even pointed out another video about the Hercules /Nikon F4 camera.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AozXw8yJWF0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iwMXNo_bLo
[via NikonRumors and Phoblographer]
Why don't the develop digital backs like this for existing film slrs?
I already know the answer... Just hoping they would.
If you listen to the astronaut, one thing they were doing that couldn't be done with film was geotagging. You're looking at the first attempts to pinpoint locations and be able to have repeat capability. This probably had it's roots in the military, but that would come all around, now wouldn't it? :-)