Context Camera (CTX) Image Mosaics for Mars Human Exploration Zones 5m
We have created 39 regional semi-controlled CTX mosaics at 5m/pixel for the 2015 proposed Mars Human Exploration zones. They are individually available for download in GeoTiff format from the "Online Linkage" tag below. Cosmetically, mosaics will have hard edges between images due to seasonal, time and calibration differences.
These regions were originally proposed during the Mars Human Exploration Zone meeting in October 2015. http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/explorationzone2015/.
The Context Camera (CTX) on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) is a Facility Instrument (i.e., government-furnished equipment operated by a science team not responsible for design and fabrication) designed, built, and operated by Malin Space Science Systems and the MRO Mars Color Imager team (MARCI). CTX will (1) provide context images for data acquired by other MRO instruments, (2) observe features of interest to NASA's Mars Exploration Program (e.g., candidate landing sites), and (3) conduct a scientific investigation, led by the MARCI team, of geologic, geomorphic, and meteorological processes on Mars.
Reference: Malin, M. C., et al. (2007), Context Camera Investigation on board the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, J. Geophys. Res., 112, E05S04, doi:10.1029/2006JE002808.
Recommended citation: Hare, T.M., G. Cushing, J. Shinamen, B. Day, E. Law, 2016, Context Camera (CTX) Image Mosaics for Mars Human Exploration Zones, Astrogeology, U.S. Geological Survey, URL: http://bit.ly/CTX_EZs
- Mimetype
- image/tiff
- Filename
- CTX_Human_EZ_sites_Oct2015.jpg
- Publisher
- USGS Astrogeology Science Center
- Publication Date
- 1 July 2016
- Author
- USGS Astrogeology Science Center
- Originator
- USGS Astrogeology Science Center, NASA AMES, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Arizona State University
- Group
- MRCTR
- Added to Astropedia
- 13 July 2016
- Modified
- 30 May 2019
General
- Purpose
CTX image mosaics were created to better characterize Mars sites for potential human exploration. They are available for individual download (see below) and for use within online mapping viewers like MarsTrek and JMars. This is also currently available as an OGC live mapping WMS service. address for WMS is: planetarymaps.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/mapserv?map=/maps/mars/mars_simp_cyl_CTX.map
- Geospatial Data Presentation Form
- Regional Mosaic, Remote-sensing Data, Landing Site Map
- Edition
- 0.1
- Online Linkage
- http://planetarymaps.usgs.gov/mosaic/Mars/CTX_EZs/
- Native Data Set Environment
- ISIS v3, ESRI Arcinfo, GDAL
- Supplemental Information
- http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/explorationzone2015/, http://marstrek.jpl.nasa.gov/, http://jmars.mars.asu.edu/
Keywords
- System
- Mars
- Target
- Mars
- Theme
- Exploration, Geographic Information System (GIS), Image Processing, Remote Sensing, Manned exploration, Landing sites
- Mission
- Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
- Instrument
- CTX
- Search Terms
- CTX, Human, Exploration, EZs, Landing Sites, mosaics
Contact and Distribution
- Access Constraints
- None
- Use Constraints
- Public domain
Data Status and Quality
- Time Period of Content Begin
- 1 June 2016
- Time Period of Content End
- 1 July 2016
- Currentness Reference
- Ground condition
- Progress
- In Work
- Update Frequency
- As needed
- Logical Consistency Report
- These CTX mosaics were not controlled to MOLA or the controlled THEMIS IR mosaics. They were only tied to each other in an attempt to align features across edges. Cosmetically, mosaics will have hard edges between images due to seasonal, time, and calibration differences.
- Completeness Report
Some gaps may still exist in the individual mosaics due to true data gaps or missed images. Images also may contain clouds blurring part of the mosaic.
- Process Date
- 1 July 2016
- Process Description
The processing approach to generate the mosaics used the USGS digital cartographic system ISIS, Arizona State University's Davinci software, and Esri's ArcMap. Integrated Software for Imagers and Spectrometers (ISIS) to ingest images in an archival format and perform instrument-specific radiometric calibration and map project the images. Davinci was used to stretch the images using a running standrd devation to try to remove a ramped (smile) lightening effect in many of the CTX images. This was not always successful and thus mosaics will have hard edges. ArcMap was then used to create a virtual mosaic and then control the images (block adjustment) to each other in an attempt to align features across edges. These images were not controlled to a basemap (e.g. MOLA topographic data or THEMIS controlled mosaic).
- Horizontal Positional Accuracy Value
- 100
- Entity and Attribute Detailed Description
- Mosaic built from map projected CTX images. Any orignal I/F values have been lost during the costmetic stretch.
Lineage
- Source PDS Archive
- Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
- Source Originator
- Malin Space Science Systems (MSSS)
- Source Publication Date
- 1 January 2016
- Source Title
- CTX Experiment Data Record (EDR) Archive
- Source Online Linkage
- http://pds-imaging.jpl.nasa.gov/portal/mro_mission.html
- Type of Source Media
- Online
Geospatial Information
- Location Description
- Regional Areas
- Minimum Latitude
- -90
- Maximum Latitude
- 90
- Minimum Longitude
- -180
- Maximum Longitude
- 180
- Direct Spatial Reference Method
- Raster
- Lines (pixels)
- 50000
- Samples (pixels)
- 40000
- Bit Type
- 8
- Quad Name
- Radius A
- 3369190
- Radius C
- 3369190
- Control Net
- MOLA
- Bands
- 1
- Pixel Resolution (meters/pixel)
- 5
- Scale (pixels/degree)
- 11855
- Horizontal Coordinate System Units
- Meters
- Map Projection Name
- Simple Cylindrical
- Latitude Type
- Planetocentric
- Longitude Direction
- Positive East
- Longitude Domain
- -180 to 180