USGS Astrogeology &
the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
using HiRISE

Introduction

The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) is flying on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) mission, launched August 12, 2005. The HiRISE camera will collect thousands of images of Mars' surface in unprecedented detail, allowing researchers to see objects as small as one meter (a little over a yard). This impressive collection of new and exciting imagery will allow scientists, engineers, and cartographers to investigate and learn much more about the Red Planet than ever before.

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All About HiRISE

HiRISE will offer highly detailed views over any selected region of Mars, supplementing lower resolution images collected by other orbiting missions, which provide large scale regional views. HiRISE actually contains 14 separate "cameras" behind a 50 cm aperture telescope. The combined result is a 1200 megapixel black-and-white camera and a 240 megapixel color camera - by comparison, a standard hand-held digital camera is generally 5 megapixels. Typical images will cover 6x12 kilometers (almost 4x8 miles). Stereo image pairs will be acquired over the highest-priority locations, supplying planners and researchers with additional information about a location's topography. Topographic information is particularly useful in determining the roughness of a terrain, an important consideration in choosing landing sites. Scientists will also use imagery from HiRISE to study deposits and landforms resulting from geologic and climate processes. In 2006, the HiRISE team also plans to begin soliciting suggestions from students and the general public for locations to image.

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USGS Involvement

Former and current USGS Astrogeology Research Program personnel who are members of the HiRISE Science and Instrument Team include Alfred McEwen, (University of Arizona, Principal Investigator), Ken Herkenhoff (USGS, Co-Investigator, polar geology coordinator, calibration lead), Eric Eliason (University of Arizona, manager of HiRISE operations center), Randolph Kirk (USGS, Co-Investigator, geodesy, geometric calibration, and topographic mapping lead), and Laszlo Keszthelyi (USGS, Co-Investigator, local E/PO lead, volcanology coordinator).

Current USGS Astrogeology Research Program personnel who are members of the HiRISE software development team include Jeff Anderson, Kris Becker, Stuart Sides and Jim Torson. The Programming group is providing software for the University of Arizona HiRISE Ground Data System (GDS) processing. This involves importing the images into the Isis image processing package, radiometric calibration and geometric projection capabilities. These tools will be available soon for anyone who wishes to work with HiRISE data.

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Get Wired to Mars & MRO!

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