Milestones in Aerial Photography – Early developments and first from aircraft Which of the following statements about the history of photography and aerial imaging are correct?

Introduction / Context:
Aerial photography predates satellites and laid the groundwork for photogrammetry and remote sensing. Knowing the timeline helps contextualize sensor evolution from balloons and kites to powered aircraft and later spacecraft.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Photography's earliest permanent image dates to 1826–1827 (Nicéphore Niépce).
• Balloons were used as aerial platforms in the early 1900s (and earlier), providing relatively stable vantage points.
• Powered aircraft enabled systematic aerial surveys by the 1900s.

Concept / Approach:
Check each claim against widely cited historical records. While balloon photography began even earlier than 1903, their use in 1903 is still a correct statement (it does not claim to be the first). Wilbur Wright’s 1909 Italian flights are commonly credited with early aircraft-based aerial photographs.

Step-by-Step Solution:
(a) 1826: aligns with Niépce’s heliograph; accepted in standard histories.(b) Balloons served as platforms in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, therefore their use in 1903 is correct as phrased.(c) 1909: Wilbur Wright performed aerial photography in Italy; recognized in historical notes.

Verification / Alternative check:
Photogrammetry texts and museum archives list these milestones, with dates varying slightly by source but consistent with the statements’ correctness as written.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• “Only (a) and (c)” needlessly excludes (b), which is not false.

Common Pitfalls:
Interpreting (b) as “first used in 1903” when it merely states they were used in that year; earlier use does not invalidate the statement.

Final Answer:
All of these