Publications
Filter Total Items: 960
Two years at Meridiani Planum: Results from the Opportunity Rover Two years at Meridiani Planum: Results from the Opportunity Rover
The Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has spent more than 2 years exploring Meridiani Planum, traveling ∼8 kilometers and detecting features that reveal ancient environmental conditions. These include well-developed festoon (trough) cross-lamination formed in flowing liquid water, strata with smaller and more abundant hematite-rich concretions than those seen previously, possible relict...
Authors
S. W. Squyres, A.H. Knoll, R. E. Arvidson, B. C. Clark, J.P. Grotzinger, B.L. Jolliff, S. M. McLennan, N. Tosca, J.F. Bell, W. M. Calvin, W. H. Farrand, T.D. Glotch, M.P. Golombek, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, J. R. Johnson, G. Klingelhofer, H.Y. McSween, A. S. Yen
Derivation of planetary topography using multi-image shape-from-shading Derivation of planetary topography using multi-image shape-from-shading
In many cases, the derivation of high-resolution digital terrain models (DTMs) from planetary surfaces using conventional digital image matching is a problem. The matching methods need at least one stereo pair of images with sufficient texture. However, many space missions provide only a few stereo images and planetary surfaces often possess insufficient texture. This paper describes a...
Authors
Volker Lohse, Christian Heipke, Randolph L. Kirk
Nature and origin of the hematite-bearing plains of Terra Meridiani based on analyses of orbital and Mars Exploration rover data sets Nature and origin of the hematite-bearing plains of Terra Meridiani based on analyses of orbital and Mars Exploration rover data sets
The ∼5 km of traverses and observations completed by the Opportunity rover from Endurance crater to the Fruitbasket outcrop show that the Meridiani plains consist of sulfate‐rich sedimentary rocks that are largely covered by poorly‐sorted basaltic aeolian sands and a lag of granule‐sized hematitic concretions. Orbital reflectance spectra obtained by Mars Express OMEGA over this region...
Authors
R. E. Arvidson, F. Poulet, R.V. Morris, J.-P. Bibring, J.F. Bell, S. W. Squyres, P. R. Christensen, G. Bellucci, B. Gondet, B.L. Ehlmann, W. H. Farrand, R.L. Fergason, M. Golombeck, J.L. Griffes, J. Grotzinger, E.A. Guinness, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, J. R. Johnson, G. Klingelhofer, Y. Langevin, D. Ming, K. Seelos, R.J. Sullivan, J.G. Ward, S.M. Wiseman, M.J. Wolff
Mapping of Titan: Results from the first Titan radar passes Mapping of Titan: Results from the first Titan radar passes
The first two swaths collected by Cassini's Titan Radar Mapper were obtained in October of 2004 (Ta) and February of 2005 (T3). The Ta swath provides evidence for cryovolcanic processes, the possible occurrence of fluvial channels and lakes, and some tectonic activity. The T3 swath has extensive areas of dunes and two large impact craters. We interpret the brightness variations in much...
Authors
E. R. Stofan, J. I. Lunine, R. Lopes, F. Paganelli, R. D. Lorenz, C. A. Wood, Randolph L. Kirk, S. Wall, C. Elachi, Laurence A. Soderblom, S. Ostro, M. Janssen, J. Radebaugh, L. Wye, H. Zebker, Y. Anderson, M. Allison, R. Boehmer, P. Callahan, P. Encrenaz, E. Flamini, G. Francescetti, Y. Gim, G. Hamilton, S. Hensley, W.T.K. Johnson, K. Kelleher, D. Muhleman, G. Picardi, F. Posa, L. Roth, R. Seu, S. Shaffer, B. Stiles, S. Vetrella, R. West
USGS Magellan stereomapping of Venus USGS Magellan stereomapping of Venus
This paper describes our methods for generating high resolution Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) of Venus using Magellan synthetic aperture radar (SAR) stereoimages, and the sensor model we developed for Magellan stereomapping on our digital photogrammetric workstation running SOCET SET (® BAE SYSTEMS). In addition to demonstrating the validity of our sensor model and procedures we use for...
Authors
Elpitha Howington-Kraus, Randolph L. Kirk, Donna M. Galuszka, Bonnie L. Redding
Aqueous processes at Gusev crater inferred from physical properties of rocks and soils along the Spirit traverse Aqueous processes at Gusev crater inferred from physical properties of rocks and soils along the Spirit traverse
Gusev crater was selected as the landing site for Spirit on the basis of morphological evidence of long-lasting water activity, including possibly fluvial and lacustrine episodes. From the Columbia Memorial Station to the Columbia Hills, Spirit's traverse provides a journey back in time, from relatively recent volcanic plains showing little evidence for aqueous processes up to the older...
Authors
N.A. Cabrol, J.D. Farmer, E.A. Grin, L. Ritcher, L. Soderblom, R. Li, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, G. A. Landis, R. E. Arvidson
Bedrock formation at Meridiani Planum Bedrock formation at Meridiani Planum
The Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity discovered sulphate-rich sedimentary rocks at Meridiani Planum on Mars, which are interpreted by McCollom and Hynek as altered volcanic rocks. However, their conclusions are derived from an incorrect representation of our depositional model, which is upheld by more recent Rover data. We contend that all the available data still support an aeolian...
Authors
S. W. Squyres, O. Aharonson, R. E. Arvidson, J.F. Bell, P. R. Christensen, B. C. Clark, J.A. Crisp, W. Farrand, T. Glotch, M.P. Golombek, J. Grant, J. Grotzinger, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, J. R. Johnson, B.L. Jolliff, A.H. Knoll, S. M. McLennan, H.Y. McSween, Johnnie N. Moore, J. W. Rice, N. Tosca
Petrogenesis of the Apollo 14 high-alumina basalts: Implications from ion microprobe analyses Petrogenesis of the Apollo 14 high-alumina basalts: Implications from ion microprobe analyses
In this study, ion microprobe analyses of individual minerals are used to investigate the petrogenesis of the Apollo 14 high-Al basalts. We use trace element concentrations from individual minerals in the Apollo 14 high-Al basalts to evaluate both endogenic and exogenic models. The data show that if the Apollo 14 high-Al basalts were produced by melting within the lunar mantle, these...
Authors
Justin Hagerty, Charles K. Shearer, James J. Papike
Stratigraphy and sedimentology of a dry to wet eolian depositional system, Burns formation, Meridiani Planum, Mars Stratigraphy and sedimentology of a dry to wet eolian depositional system, Burns formation, Meridiani Planum, Mars
Outcrop exposures of sedimentary rocks at the Opportunity landing site (Meridiani Planum) form a set of genetically related strata defined here informally as the Burns formation. This formation can be subdivided into lower, middle, and upper units which, respectively, represent eolian dune, eolian sand sheet, and mixed eolian sand sheet and interdune facies associations. Collectively...
Authors
J. P. Grotzinger, R. E. Arvidson, J. F. Bell, W. Calvin, B. C. Clark, D.A. Fike, M. Golombek, R. Greeley, A. Haldemann, Kenneth E. Herkenhoff, B. L. Jolliff, A. H. Knoll, M. Malin, S. M. McLennan, T. Parker, Laurence A. Soderblom, J. N. Sohl-Dickstein, S. W. Squyres, N.J. Tosca, W.A. Watters
Utility of Viking Orbiter images and products for Mars mapping Utility of Viking Orbiter images and products for Mars mapping
This paper reports on mapping procedures developed by the U.S. Geological Survey that use Viking Orbiter imagery and Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) derived radii to produce topographic data. The use of Mosaiced Digital Image Models (MDIMs), created from Viking Orbiter images, and MOLA data to provide horizontal and vertical control is reviewed. We describe procedures to adapt a...
Authors
Mark R. Rosiek, Randolph L. Kirk, Brent A. Archinal, Elpitha Howington-Kraus, Trent M. Hare, Donna M. Galuszka, Bonnie L. Redding
Three in one: Multiscale Hardcopy Depiction of the Mars Surface in True3D Three in one: Multiscale Hardcopy Depiction of the Mars Surface in True3D
The visualisation of both geospatial Earth data and extra-terrestrial objects is gain- ing increasing importance. Until recently, hardcopy displays were confined to mostly static, two-dimensional or pseudo-three-dimensional depictions. The various effects offered by lenticular foil technology allow the generation of flip-image effects, short animations, and true-3D displays in hardcopy...
Authors
Manfred Buchroithner, Thomas Grundemann, Randolph L. Kirk, Klaus Habermann