The MVACS Surface Stereo Imager on Mars Polar Lander

Details The MVACS Surface Stereo Imager on Mars Polar Lander The MVACS Surface Stereo Imager on Mars Polar Lander

Aug 2001

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2001jgr...10617589s&link_type=abstract

Journal of Geophysical Research, Volume 106, Issue E8, p. 17589-17608

Physics

Optics

5

Planetology: Solid Surface Planets: Remote Sensing, Planetology: Solid Surface Planets: Instruments And Techniques

Scientific paper

The Surface Stereo Imager (SSI), a stereoscopic, multispectral camera on the Mars Polar Lander, is described in terms of its capabilities for studying the Martian polar environment. The camera's two eyes, separated by 15.0 cm, provide the camera with range-finding ability. Each eye illuminates half of a single CCD detector with a field of view of 13.8° high by 14.3° wide and has 12 selectable filters between 440 and 1000 nm. The f18 optics have a large depth of field, and no focusing mechanism is required; a mechanical shutter is avoided by using the frame transfer capability of the 528 × 512 CCD. The resolving power of the camera, 0.975 mrad/pixel, is the same as the Imager for Mars Pathfinder camera, of which it is nearly an exact copy. Specially designed targets are positioned on the Lander; they provide information on the magnetic properties of wind-blown dust, and radiometric standards for calibration. Several experiments beyond the requisite color panorama are described in detail: contour mapping of the local terrain, multispectral imaging of interesting features (possibly with ice or frost in shaded spots) to study local mineralogy, and atmospheric imaging to constrain the properties of the haze and clouds. Eight low-transmission filters are included for imaging the Sun directly at multiple wavelengths to give SSI the ability to measure dust opacity and potentially the water vapor content. This paper is intended to document the functionality and calibration of the SSI as flown on the failed lander.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The MVACS Surface Stereo Imager on Mars Polar Lander 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 The MVACS Surface Stereo Imager on Mars Polar Lander, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The MVACS Surface Stereo Imager on Mars Polar Lander will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-801898