Posted on 01/08/2004 10:35:51 PM PST by Central Scrutiniser
Orbiter Photographs Viking 1 and Pathfinder Landers on Mars' Surface
By Robert Roy Britt
Senior Science Writer
posted: 01:20 pm ET
07 January 2004
The two pictures shown here were acquired during in 2003. The top image shows the location of the Mars Pathfinder lander (MPF) and the nearby boulder, Yogi. The lower image shows the location of the Viking 1 (VL-1) lander. These locations were determined by using sight lines from the landers to near and far objects seen in the pictures acquired by the landers, and then matching these to locations in earlier images captured by the Mars Global Surveyor's camera. CREDIT: NASA/JPL/MSSS
Scientists have used an orbiting Mars craft to photograph robotic landers that have been sitting dormant on the surface of the red planet since their missions ended.
Using a newly developed trick, the researchers imaged Mars Pathfinder, which in 1997 thrilled earthlings with its photographs and the wandering science exploits of its Sojourner rover. Pathfinder appears as a dark dot near a rock that scientists named Yogi during the mission.
The Viking 1 lander from 1976 is also visible, as a bright dot in a separate image.
The photographs were made with NASA's Mars Global Surveyor (MGS). Normally it can resolve features only down to about 3 feet (1 meter) per pixel, not good enough to discern a typical landing craft from its surroundings.
The new technique involves "pitching the spacecraft at a rate faster than the spacecraft moves in its orbit around Mars," said scientists at Malin Space Science Systems, which operates the orbiter's camera. The resolution of images -- across one dimension of the photograph only -- is improved to about 20 inches (50 centimeters) per pixel.
The method, called image motion compensation, was developed during 2003 with the goal of photographing the Mars Spirit rover, which landed earlier this month, and its twin, Opportunity, slated to arrive later in January.
Scientists plan to use radio data and on-site observations from Spirit, and then couple that with the new imaging technique in coming days in order to pinpoint its location and more intelligently pick science targets for the rover to study.
The technique works only "when the location of the lander is already fairly-well established," Malin scientists said. They match known features -- such as the rock named Yogi near Pathfinder -- with features spotted in the image to help pin down whether a dot is the craft they're looking for.
The procedure is unlikely to help in finding the European Space Agency's lost Beagle 2 lander or the similarly doomed Mars Polar Lander from 1999, the researchers said.
"It would be extremely difficult to find a lander for which the location is uncertain," Malin scientists said in a statement.
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It seems to me that if the location is certain, then YOU DON'T NEED TO FIND IT!
Really made the world's day.
I'm sure they'll find something..........just let me know!
Don't judge a book by it's outside cover. We haven't scratched this world yet. I honestly believe that what we will eventually find there, from it's past and present will be historic and sobering.
Ever read Mars by Ben Bova?
Many years in the future, these sites will be preserved, historic landmarks of American space exploration history.
The space craft, their exploration vehicles and the surrounding sites will be protected and preserved.
The space craft, their exploration vehicles and the surrounding sites will be protected and preserved.
Cool. Will they be tourist attractions? Maybe the local Martian mall built next to the Brit crash site can be called Dead Beagle Boutique or something.
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