Labs and Facilities

The U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) Astrogeology Science Center (ASC) recently established the Terrestrial Analogs for Research and Geologic Exploration Training (TARGET) program. This service-oriented program is built around the recognition that the Earth is a fundamental training ground for human and robotic planetary exploration, and that ASC is in a unique position in northern Arizona with...

Digital Terrain Models and Orthorectified Images Produced by the U.S. Geological Survey The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Astrogeology Planetary Photogrammetry Lab offers a Digital Terrain Model (DTM) and orthorectified image production service to the scientific community to supply NASA-selected investigators with high-quality HiRISE DTMs and orthorectified HiRISE images. This effort replaces the...

The Astrogeology Terrestrial Analog Sample Collections include three individual sample collections: the Meteor Crater Sample Collection, the Flynn Creek Crater Sample Collection, and the Shoemaker Sample Collection (embed links to individual pages; add buttons to click to go to individual pages). Click Related Science tab above to navigate to the individual collections pages.

The Astrogeology Team at USGS provides coordination of NASA's planetary geologic mapping program. Geologic mapping investigations of any imaged planetary body (except Earth) are proposed to NASA's Planetary Geology and Geophysics Program on an annual basis (generally due sometime between late April and early June) and then reviewed by the Lunar and Planetary Geoscience Review Panel. USGS map...

The Annex of the PDS Cartography and Imaging Sciences Node (aka “Imaging” or IMG)  is a data repository designed to support the public delivery of NASA-funded geospatial data products derived from PDS image data. Examples of geospatial, derived products supported include global mosaics and thematic maps of moons and planets, local and regional mineral maps, topography and their derived products...

The USGS Lunar Calibration project hosts a system to use the Moon as a reference light source for sensor radiometric calibration and stability monitoring. This capability was developed for solar reflective wavelengths, primarily to meet the on-orbit calibration needs of remote sensing imaging instruments. However, the lunar calibration technique is applicable to any solar-wavelength sensor that...

The USGS Astrogeology Mapping, Remote-sensing, Cartography, Technology, and Research (MRCTR, pronounced "Mercator") GIS Lab provides web-based resources aimed at the planetary research community. The lab supports Geographic Information Systems (GIS) graphical, statistical, and spatial tools for analyses of planetary data, including the distribution of planetary GIS tutorials, tools, programs, and...

The USGS Astrogeology Science Center is host to the lead science component  of the Cartography and Imaging Sciences Node (IMG) of the NASA Planetary Data System (PDS). A partner facility at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) provides engineering support and technical management for the IMG. The IMG is a PDS science discipline node that manages an archive of more than 1500 TB in a growing...

Astrolink currently houses more than 100,000 lunar and planetary maps, a reference library, an ever-growing photo and document collection that chronicles the historic and on-going activities of USGS Astrogeology, assorted artifacts (including Grover, the Apollo-era astronaut training rover), the MRCTR GIS Lab Space, and a work room for visiting researchers. Tours of Astrolink, as well as archival...