Other
Scientific paper
Dec 2008
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008agufm.u14a..02l&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2008, abstract #U14A-02
Other
6225 Mars
Scientific paper
Phoenix landed in the northern plains of Mars in an area with low rock abundance dominated by few-meter- scale polygonal patterned ground with decimeter scale troughs. The Phoenix Surface Stereo Imager (SSI) provides geomorphic and spectral information about the Phoenix landing site for scales that range from site- wide to context for samples analyzed by other Phoenix instruments. The SSI is a multispectral stereo camera with properties that are comparable to the Mars Exploration Rover Pancam. It has MER-heritage 1024x1024 pixel detectors, a 14-degree field of view for individual images, and resolution as high as 1-2 mm for near- field terrain (0.24 mrad/pixel). Images are taken through one of 24 filters, including 13 unique spectral bandpasses, 2 stereo bandpasses, 2 filters paired with lenses for best focus on the lander deck, 6 solar filters for atmospheric dust and water vapor and ice measurements, and 1 polarizer. The stereo separation of the eyes is 15 cm, and the focus and toe-in are optimized at 3 to 3.5 m to support Robotic Arm (RA) operations. SSI can image from the camera bar at -72 degrees to the zenith, and through 360 degrees of azimuth. As with Pancam, panoramic images are built on the ground from a number of individual frames. SSI provided geomorphic information through a set of campaigns. Three major site panoramas were acquired: on sols 1 and 3, a low-resolution monochromatic site panorama provided context for higher- resolution images in the RA workspace; a color-stereo panorama was completed on sol 43; a multispectral high-resolution panorama is currently underway. High resolution detail observations were conducted throughout the mission for high priority targets in and beyond the workspace. These campaigns show a landscape dominated by polygons with typical diameters of 2 to 4 meters. Troughs between the polygons have depths of typically 5-20 cm relative to the polygon centers. Phoenix landed with access to a trough and parts of two polygons within the RA workspace. Beyond the workspace, a nearby hill blocks the view of Heimdal crater, but hills to the south and west provide visual localization. Color information about the site came from the panoramic imaging and multispectral imaging of workspace and other targets. The site is nearly monochromatic, dominated by ferric absorptions in the visible except where the RA uncovered material with a substantially less red slope in the visible. This material was identified as water ice based on the red slope in the visible, a 1-micrometer downturn, and shrinkage and disappearance of small, bright particles on time scales consistent with sublimation of water ice.
Arvidson Ray
Blaney Diana
DeJong Eric
Lemmon Mark Thomas
Madsen Morten Bo
No associations
LandOfFree
Phoenix landing site and sample context images from the Surface Stereo Imager 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 Phoenix landing site and sample context images from the Surface Stereo Imager, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Phoenix landing site and sample context images from the Surface Stereo Imager will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1240484