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At least 55 records · Page 3

CD-ROM publication of the Mars digital cartographic data base

The recently completed Mars mosaicked digital image model (MDIM) and the soon-to-be-completed Mars digital terrain model (DTM) are being transcribed to optical disks to simplify distribution to planetary investigators. These models, completed in FY 1991, provide a cartographic base to which all existing Mars data can be registered. The digital image map of Mars is a cartographic extension of a set of compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM) volumes containing individual Viking Orbiter images now being released. The data in these volumes are pristine in the sense that they were processed only to the extent required to view them as images. They contain the artifacts and the radiometric, geometric, and photometric characteristics of the raw data transmitted by the spacecraft. This new set of volumes, on the other hand, contains cartographic compilations made by processing the raw images to reduce radiometric and geometric distortions and to form geodetically controlled MDIM's. It also contains digitized versions of an airbrushed map of Mars as well as a listing of all feature names approved by the International Astronomical Union. In addition, special geodetic and photogrammetric processing has been performed to derive rasters of topographic data, or DTM's. The latter have a format similar to that of MDIM, except that elevation values are used in the array instead of image brightness values. The set consists of seven volumes: (1) Vastitas Borealis Region of Mars; (2) Xanthe Terra of Mars; (3) Amazonis Planitia Region of Mars; (4) Elysium Planitia Region of Mars; (5) Arabia Terra of Mars; (6) Planum Australe Region of Mars; and (7) a digital topographic map of Mars.

Batson, R. M.↗

Sixth Annual Flight Mechanics/Estimation Theory Symposium

Methods of orbital position estimation were reviewed. The problem of accuracy in orbital mechanics is discussed and various techniques in current use are presented along with suggested improvements. Of special interest is the compensation for bias in satelliteborne instruments due to attitude instabilities. Image processing and correctional techniques are reported for geodetic measurements and mapping.

Lefferts, E.↗

Preliminary investigation of Zagros thrust-fold-belt deformation using SAR interferometry

Most of the Zagros deformation resulting from the convergence of Arabia and Eurasia takes place in the Southeast Zagros. To apply the SAR interferometry geodetic technique, a few ERS 1 & 2 satellite images were used to map this continuing deformation proven by GPS. Interferograms over 7 years show surprisingly high coherence. The unwrapped phases display a high correlation with topography reflecting atmospheric noise in addition to the desired tectonic signal. We estimate two simple linear trends and remove them from interferograms. The preliminary results show local uplift rates with a likely minimum of 1-2 mm/yr. These early crude results will be tested by more data in project No. 3174.

tectonics↗

The cartography of Venus with Magellan data

Maps of Venus based on Magellan data are being compiled at 1:50,000,000, 1:5,000,000 and 1:1,500,000 scales. Topographic contour lines based on radar altimetry data are overprinted on the image maps, along with feature nomenclature. Map controls are based on existing knowledge of the spacecraft orbit; photogrammetric triangulation, a traditional basis for geodetic control for bodies where framing cameras were used, is not feasible with the radar images of Venus. Preliminary synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image maps have some data gaps and cosmetic inconsistencies, which will be corrected on final compilations. Eventual revision of geodetic controls and of the adopted Venusian spin-axis location will result in geometric adjustments, particularly on large-scale maps.

Kirk, R. L.↗

Overall evaluation of ERTS-1 imagery for cartographic application

The author has identified the following significant results. Scientific results may be summarized as follows: (1) A geodetic (UTM) grid can be fitted to MSS bulk images with a positional accuracy in the order of 50 meters (rms). (2) The MSS imagery as corrected and printed in bulk form is in effect or a defined map projection. This projection, if optimized for cartographic presentation, will have distortions in the order of only 1 part in 10,000. (3) The orbit of ERTS-1 and image delineation of MSS imagery can be held by NASA so that predesignated scenes may be identified and used as a basis for a map series. This concept could reduce the time and cost of ERTS-1 image map production many fold as compared to standard quadrangle format production.

Colvocoresses, A. P.↗

Mapping experiment with space station

Mapping the earth from space stations can be approached in two areas. One is to collect gravity data for defining a new topographic datum using the earth's gravitational field in terms of spherical harmonics. The other, which should be considered as a very significant contribution of the Space Station, is to search and explore techniques of mapping the earth's topography using either optical or radar images with or without references to ground control points. Geodetic position of ground control points can be predetermined by the Global Positioning System (GPS) for the mapping experiment with the Space Station. It is proposed to establish four ground control points in North America or Africa (including the Sahara Desert). If this experiment should be successfully accomplished, it may also be applied to the defense charting service.

Wu, Sherman S. C.↗

(abstract) Global Gravity and Topography

This paper will discuss global gravity and topography, pole orientation, rotation, and a geodetic control network. The gravity reductions produced two products for geophysical modeling. They are line-of-sight acceleration profiles and spherical harmonic coefficients. The acceleration profiles were generated from the raw Doppler residual on a single orbit of Magellan (MGN) radio tracking data. There are over 2500 profiles from excellent X-band Doppler tracking, producing over three million individual observations. The topography data acquired by the radar altimeter on MGN were reduced and archived as three different products. The Venus spin pole orientation, rotation rate and geodetic control network were obtained by processing the SAR imaging data independently and also by incorporating Doppler radio tracking and radar altimetry. Some data from Pioneer Venus Orbiter and Venera were used also.

Venus Magellan Venera Pioneer Venus Orbiter gravit↗

Advanced Land Imager Assessment System

The Advanced Land Imager Assessment System (ALIAS) supports radiometric and geometric image processing for the Advanced Land Imager (ALI) instrument onboard NASA s Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite. ALIAS consists of two processing subsystems for radiometric and geometric processing of the ALI s multispectral imagery. The radiometric processing subsystem characterizes and corrects, where possible, radiometric qualities including: coherent, impulse; and random noise; signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs); detector operability; gain; bias; saturation levels; striping and banding; and the stability of detector performance. The geometric processing subsystem and analysis capabilities support sensor alignment calibrations, sensor chip assembly (SCA)-to-SCA alignments and band-to-band alignment; and perform geodetic accuracy assessments, modulation transfer function (MTF) characterizations, and image-to-image characterizations. ALIAS also characterizes and corrects band-toband registration, and performs systematic precision and terrain correction of ALI images. This system can geometrically correct, and automatically mosaic, the SCA image strips into a seamless, map-projected image. This system provides a large database, which enables bulk trending for all ALI image data and significant instrument telemetry. Bulk trending consists of two functions: Housekeeping Processing and Bulk Radiometric Processing. The Housekeeping function pulls telemetry and temperature information from the instrument housekeeping files and writes this information to a database for trending. The Bulk Radiometric Processing function writes statistical information from the dark data acquired before and after the Earth imagery and the lamp data to the database for trending. This allows for multi-scene statistical analyses.

Chander, Gyanesh↗

Geodesy at Mercury with MESSENGER

In 2011 the MESSENGER (MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging) spacecraft will enter Mercury orbit and begin the mapping phase of the mission. As part of its science objectives the MESSENGER mission will determine the shape and gravity field of Mercury. These observations will enable the topography and the crustal thickness to be derived for the planet and will determine the small libration of the planet about its axis, the latter critical to constraining the state of the core. These measurements require very precise positioning of the MESSENGER spacecraft in its eccentric orbit, which has a periapsis altitude as low as 200 km, an apoapsis altitude near 15,000 km, and a closest approach to the surface varying from latitude 60 to about 70 N. The X-band tracking of MESSENGER and the laser altimetry are the primary data that will be used to measure the planetary shape and gravity field. The laser altimeter, which has an expected range of 1000 to 1200 km, is expected to provide significant data only over the northern hemisphere because of MESSENGER's eccentric orbit. For the southern hemisphere, radio occultation measurements obtained as the spacecraft passes behind the planet as seen from Earth and images obtained with the imaging system will be used to provide the long-wavelength shape of the planet. Gravity, derived from the tracking data, will also have greater resolution in the northern hemisphere, but full global models for both topography and gravity will be obtained at low harmonic order and degree. The limiting factor for both gravity and topography is expected to be knowledge of the spacecraft location. Present estimations are that in a combined tracking, altimetry, and occultation solution the spacecraft position uncertainty is likely to be of order 10 m. This accuracy should be adequate for establishing an initial geodetic coordinate system for Mercury that will enable positioning of imaged features on the surface, determination of the planet's obliquity, and detection of the librational motion of the planet about its axis.

Smith, David E.↗

Automated rectification and geocoding of SAR imagery

An automated post-processing system has been developed for rectification and geocoding of SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) imagery. The system uses as input a raw uncorrected image from the operational SAR correlator, and produces as a standard output a rectified and geocoded product. The accurate geolocation of SAR image pixels is provided by a spatial transformation model which maps the slant range-azimuth SAR image pixels into their location on a prespecified map grid. This model predicts the geodetic location of each pixel by utilizing: the sensor platform position; a geoid model; the parameters of the data collection system and the processing parameters used in the SAR correlator. Based on their geodetic locations, the pixels are mapped by using the desired cartographic projection equations. This rectification and geocoding technique has been tested with Seasat and SIR-B images. The test results demonstrate absolute location uncertainty of less than 50 m and relative distortion (scale factor and skew) of less than 0.1 percent relative to local variations from the assumed geoid.

Kwok, R.↗

Computational aspects of geometric correction data generation in the LANDSAT-D imagery processing

A method is presented for systematic and geodetic correction data calculation. It is based on presentation of image distortions as a sum of nominal distortions and linear effects caused by variation of the spacecraft position and attitude variables from their nominals. The method may be used for both MSS and TM image data and it is incorporated into the processing by means of mostly offline calculations. Modeling shows that the maximal of the method are of the order of 5m at the worst point in a frame; the standard deviations of the average errors less than .8m.

Levine, I.↗

The rotation period, direction of the north pole, and geodetic control network of Venus

Three related activities that use Magellan data to derive improved estimates of the rotation period and direction of the spin axis of Venus are discussed. These are the computation of the Magellan geodetic control network, the use of measurement landmarks identified in overlapping image strips to improve the spacecraft ephemeris, and the use of common points identified on both the Venera 15/16 and the Magellan images. Since seven years separate the acquisition of the Magellan and Venera images, it should be possible to compute an accurate rotation period and possibly the spin vector of Venus.

Davies, M. E.↗

Digital processing of Mariner 9 television data.

The digital image processing performed by the Image Processing Laboratory (IPL) at JPL in support of the Mariner 9 mission is summarized. The support is divided into the general categories of image decalibration (the removal of photometric and geometric distortions from returned imagery), computer cartographic projections in support of mapping activities, and adaptive experimenter support (flexible support to provide qualitative digital enhancements and quantitative data reduction of returned imagery). Among the tasks performed were the production of maximum discriminability versions of several hundred frames to support generation of a geodetic control net for Mars, and special enhancements supporting analysis of Phobos and Deimos images.

Green, W. B.↗

The control network of Mars: April 1991

The modern geodetic control network of Mars was first established based on Mariner 9 images with 1-2 km/pixel resolutions and covered almost the entire Martian surface. The introduction of higher resolution (10-200 meter/pixel) Viking Orbiter images greatly improved the accuracy and density of points in the control network. Analysis of the Viking Lander radio tracking data led to more accurate measurements of Mars' rotation period, spin axis direction, and the lander coordinates relative to the inertial reference frame. The prime meridian on Mars was defined by the Geodesy/Cartography Group of the Mariner 9 Television Team as the crater Airy-0, located about 5 degrees south of the equator. The Viking 1 Lander site was identified on a high resolution Viking frame. The control point measurements form the basis of a least squares solution determined by analytical triangulation after the pixel measurements are corrected for geometric distortions and converted to millimeter coordinates in the camera focal plane. Photogrammetric strips encircling Mars at the equator and at 60 degree north south were used to strengthen the overall net and improve the accuracy of the coordinates of points. In addition, photogrammetric strips along 0, 90, 180, and 270 degrees longitude to the Viking 1 Lander site have all significantly strengthened the control network. Most recently, photogrammetric strips were added to the net along 30 degrees north latitude between 0 and 180 degrees, and along 30 degrees between 180 and 360 degrees. The Viking 1 Lander site and Airy-0 are linked through photogrammetric strips occurring along the 0 degree meridian from Airy-0 to 65 degrees north, from that point through the Viking 1 Lander site to the equator, and along the equator to 180 degrees longitude. The Viking 1 lander site is thus a well calibrated area with coordinates of points accurate to approximately 200 meters relative to the J2000 inertial coordinate system. This will be a useful calibration region for upcoming missions. The current status of the control network calculations is presented.

Davies, Merton E.↗

On the geodetic stability of the Goddard Optical Research Facility

Seismic observations of earthquakes and blasts, geologic analysis of Landsat images, and a search of the historical record was examined. However, no evidence for tectonic motion was found. Some faulting is present in the area but no evidence of seismic activity was found. No elastic resonances in the range from 0.3 to 15 Hz were found. It is concluded that, except for ground water induced changes, the facility is stable at least to the 0.5 cm level.

Webster, W. J., Jr.↗

Photogrammetric calibration of the NASA-Wallops Island image intensifier system

An image intensifier was designed for use as one of the primary tracking systems for the barium cloud experiment at Wallops Island. Two computer programs, a definitive stellar camara calibration program and a geodetic stellar camara orientation program, were originally developed at Wallops on a GE 625 computer. A mathematical procedure for determining the image intensifier distortions is outlined, and the implementation of the model in the Wallops computer programs is described. The analytical calibration of metric cameras is also discussed.

Harp, B. F.↗

Venus mapping

Semicontrolled image mosaics of Venus, based on Magellan data, are being compiled at 1:50,000,000, 1:10,000,000, 1:5,000,000, and 1:1,000,000 scales to support the Magellan Radar Investigator (RADIG) team. The mosaics are semicontrolled in the sense that data gaps were not filled and significant cosmetic inconsistencies exist. Contours are based on preliminary radar altimetry data that is subjected to revision and improvement. Final maps to support geologic mapping and other scientific investigations, to be compiled as the dataset becomes complete, will be sponsored by the Planetary Geology and Geophysics Program and/or the Venus Data Analysis Program. All maps, both semicontrolled and final, will be published as I-maps by the United States Geological Survey. All of the mapping is based on existing knowledge of the spacecraft orbit; photogrammetric triangulation, a traditional basis for geodetic control on planets where framing cameras were used, is not feasible with the radar images of Venus, although an eventual shift of coordinate system to a revised spin-axis location is anticipated. This is expected to be small enough that it will affect only large-scale maps.

Batson, R. M.↗

Lessons Learned from Recent Rapid Imaging of Earthquake Ruptures with Satellite Geodesy

Rapid determination of the location and extent of earthquake ruptures at the surface and at depth is helpful for disaster response, as it allows prediction of the likely area of major damage from the earthquake and can help with rescue and recovery planning. The Caltech-Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Advanced Rapid Imaging and Analysis (ARIA) project has responded to many recent large earthquakes to process geodetic data and help determine the location and extent of ruptures. With the increasing availability of near real-time data from the Global Positioning System (GPS) and other global navigation satellite system receivers in active tectonic regions, and with the shorter repeat times of many recent and newly launched radar satellites, geodetic data can now be obtained quickly after earthquakes or other disasters. We have been building an ARIA data system that can ingest, catalog, and process geodetic data and combine it with seismic analysis to estimate the fault rupture locations and slip distributions for large earthquakes that are on or near land.

Simons, Mark↗