Computer Science
Scientific paper
Jan 1998
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1998nvmi.conf...70t&link_type=abstract
Workshop on New Views of the Moon: Integrated Remotely Sensed, Geophysical, and Sample Datasets, p. 70
Computer Science
Lava, Lunar Bases, Moon, Lunar Exploration, Lunar Geology, Ground Truth, Clementine Spacecraft, Valleys, Protection, Lunar Logistics
Scientific paper
A significant problem in computer science, which has become increasingly acute recently, is the automatic extraction and cataloging of desired features from large sets of complex images. Solution of this problem could potentially have broad applicability. As a prototype of this kind of problem, our group has chosen to attempt the automatic retrieval of lava tubes from the Clementine dataset. Lunar lava tubes have long been recognized as desirable locations for the placement of manned lunar bases. Advantages include that (1) little construction is needed; (2) building materials need not be lifted out of Earth's gravity well; (3) the tubes provide natural environmental control; and (4) the tubes provide natural protection from cosmic rays, meteorites, micrometeorites, and impact crater ejecta. Coombs and Hawke identified about 100 probable lava tubes associated with sinuous rilles in the Lunar Orbiter and Apollo photos, primarily in the nearside maria. The lava tubes that are visible to Earth-based telescopes might be too large to provide good candidates for lunar bases. Such lava tubes of large diameter need a great depth of overlying rock to keep from collapsing. Any intact large tubes would lie inconveniently far underground. Most useful would be lava tubes that are too small to be discerned from Earth. The Clementine spacecraft, which mapped the entire surface of the Moon to an unprecedented level of detail in 1994, gives us a view of these smaller lava tubes. Over 1.9 million images in the visible, near infrared, and mid-infrared portions of the spectrum were captured. Our task is to find and catalog the small lava tubes in the Clementine dataset. Of particular interest are small sinuous rifles that contain interruptions, which represent uncollapsed portions of a tube that has partially collapsed. Once cataloged, the candidate base locations can be examined more closely for suitability. Considerations would be proximity to resources, sites of scientific interest, or favorable locations for siting of a railgun satellite launcher.
Gibbs Alan
Taylor Allen G.
No associations
LandOfFree
Automated Search for Lunar Lava Tubes in the Clementine Dataset does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Automated Search for Lunar Lava Tubes in the Clementine Dataset, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Automated Search for Lunar Lava Tubes in the Clementine Dataset will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1614520