The Lunar Orbiters developed their film in space using Kodak's BIMAT transfer-processing system, a technology that remained classified by the Central Intelligence Agency until 2001.
Notes on verification
Confirmed via CIA FOIA Reading Room primary document showing 2001 declassification stamp, plus multiple independent secondary sources (LPI/USRA, WXXI, Wikipedia) corroborating the BIMAT system's use and classified origins. [cascade flags: wikipedia_dropped_other_sources_exist | tier=silver indep_score=0.95 clusters=3 claim_tier=notable]
Sources
- Moon photos from the 1960s were developed in space—here's how (seed:science_and_space)
- https://www.lpi.usra.edu/resources/lunar_orbiter/book/introduction.shtml (corroboration)
- https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp33-02415a000500120032-7 (corroboration)
- https://www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2019-07-16/chasing-the-moon-kodak-photography-mapped-landing-site (corroboration)