Physics – Optics
Scientific paper
Jan 1999
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1999misp.conf...65m&link_type=abstract
Workshop on Mars 2001: Integrated Science in Preparation for Sample Return and Human Exploration, p. 65
Physics
Optics
Landing Sites, Mars Surface, Mars Surveyor 2001 Mission, Mars (Planet), Images, Optical Equipment, Descent, Planetary Geology, Topography
Scientific paper
The overall objective of the 2001 Mars Descent Imager (MARDI) experiment is to acquire and analyze close-up pictures of surface features at and in the immediate vicinity of the Mars Surveyor 2001 (MS'01) landing site, in order to provide geologic and physical context for the results of lander and rover investigations, to provide near-realtime planning information for lander and rover operations, and to study specific attributes of the geology and geomorphology of Mars. Observational goals include studies of. 1) surface morphology (e.g., nature and distribution of landforms indicating past and present environmental processes); 2) local and regional geography (e.g., context for other lander instruments--precise location, detailed local relief); and 3) relationships to features seen in orbiter data. Based on the MS'98 MARDI experiment, it is anticipated that the MS'01 descent imager will provide panchromatic images of the landing site over a 73.4 degrees field-of-view (FOV) with a resolution of 1.25 mrad/pixel (12.5 cm/pixel from 100 m Nested images at a scale ratios of 2.5: 1 or better will be acquired. The anticipated results of this investigation include: 1) detailed knowledge of the local and regional setting of the MS'01 landing site, documented using geologic and topographic maps, 2) a specific link between the landing site and the rest of Mars as seen from orbit, and 3) serendipitous discovery of geomorphic processes at scales between those seen from orbit and those seen from the surface. MARDI consists of optics and four small electronics boards: the focal plane assembly, clock board, data acquisition system electronics, and power supply. The original design was developed under Planetary Definition and Development Program funding, although the flight design is considerably simplified for reliability and ease of manufacturing. It is characterized by relatively small physical size (about 5.5 x 8.5 x 12 cm about 500 gm) low power (<4 W, including power supply losses), and high science performance (1000 x 1000 pixel, low noise images, and ultimate geometric resolution better than 1 cm/pixel). Depending on the descent profile that actually occurs, MARDI will acquire up to 100 Mbits of image data, spanning three orders of magnitude in scale, during the roughly 60 seconds between heatshield jettison and spacecraft touchdown.
Herkenhoff Ken E.
Malin Michael C.
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