Randolph L Kirk, Ph.D.
Randolph Kirk’s research interests span both geoscience and mapping of planetary bodies. He has participated in many missions to the Moon, Venus, Mars, asteroids, comets, and icy satellites. He helped direct planetary mapping at the USGS since the early 1990s, and has developed practical methods for topomapping by shape from shading and by adapting commercial stereo workstations to planetary use.
Recent Accomplishments
- In 2020, NASA's Mars 2020 rover Perseverance landed in Jezero crater at a site mapped by the Astrogeology Science Center. Perseverence was the ninth Mars lander or rover to go to a site we mapped, all of which landed successfully. (Starting in 1962, 10 Mars landings attempted without USGS mapping failed for a variety of reasons. Just days before Perseverence the Chinese landerTianwen-1 became the first such mission to succeed.) Perseverance also carried our maps onboard and used them to guide its final descent, a technological first.
- We are helping to design and caibrate the Europa Imaging System (EIS) cameras for NASA's Europa Clipper mission and to develop software and procedures for making controlled image and topographic maps. As part of this task, we invented and demonstrated a new technique for correcting distortions in frame images that are read out line-by-line so that they can be used for precision mapping.
- We have used stereo images of Mars obtained by different cameras with pixel scales differing up to 50x to assess the resolution and precision of digital topographic models obtained under real-world (Mars) conditions. We are currently using similar techniques with images of Earth’s Moon to quantify how topographic models can be improved by photoclinometry (shape from shading) techniques using one or multiple images.
Education
- Ph.D., Planetary Science, Minor in Physics, California Institute of Technology, January 1987
- M.S., Planetary Science, California Institute of Technology, June 1984
- B.S., Physics, Stanford University, June 1981
Space Mission Participation
- Member, Europa Imaging System Science Team, May 2015–Present
- Member, ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter CaSSIS Science Team, August 2010–Present
- Member, LRO and Chandrayaan-1 Mini-RF Science Teams, July 2006–Present
- Member, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter HiRISE Science Team, December 2001–Present
- Member, Mars Exploration Rovers Science Team, August 2000–June 2018
- Associate, Deep Space 1 MICAS Science Team, March 2000–December 2002
- Participating Scientist, NEAR MSI/NIS Team, August 1999–July 2001
- Associate, Imager for Mars Pathfinder Science Team, July 1996–August 1998
- Member, Mars Express HRSC Science Team, January 2000–March 2020
- Associate, Mars 96 HRSC/WAOSS Science Team, March 1993–December 1996
- Member, Cassini RADAR Instrument Team, December 1990–September 2018
- Magellan Guest Investigator, October 1990–September 1994
- Associate, Voyager Imaging Science Team, 1989
Working Groups
- Member, IAU Working Group on Cartographic Coords & Rotational Elements, August 2012–present
- Member, NASA Lunar Geodesy/Cartography Working Group, December 2007–present
- Member, NASA Mars Geodesy/Cartography Working Group, June 1998–present
- Member, ISPRS Working Group “Planetary Mapping & Remote Sensing”, November 1996–present
- Chair, November 2000-October 2004, Co-Chair, Nove
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 161
Cartography for lunar exploration: 2006 status and planned missions
The initial spacecraft exploration of the Moon in the 1960s–70s yielded extensive data, primarily in the form of film and television images, that were used to produce a large number of hardcopy maps by conventional techniques. A second era of exploration, beginning in the early 1990s, has produced digital data including global multispectral imagery and altimetry, from which a new generation of dig
Authors
Randolph L. Kirk, Brent A. Archinal, Lisa R. Gaddis, Mark R. Rosiek
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 mapping, w
Authors
Elpitha Howington-Kraus, Randolph L. Kirk, Donna M. Galuszka, Bonnie L. Redding
The HRSC DTM test
The High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) has been orbiting the planet Mars since January 2004 onboard the ESA Mars Express mission and delivers imagery which is being used for topographic mapping of the planet. The HRSC team is currently conducting a systematic inter-comparison of different alternatives for the production of high resolution Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) from the multilook HRSC pus
Authors
Christian Heipke, Jürgen Oberst, Jeorg Albertz, Maria Attwenger, Peter Dorninger, Egon Dorrer, M. Ewe, Stephan Gehrke, Klaus Gwinner, H. Hirschmuller, J.R. Kim, Randolph L. Kirk, H. Mayer, Jan-Peter Muller, Rajagopalan Rengarajan, M. Rentsch, R. Schmidt, Frank Scholten, J. Shan, Michael Spiegel, M. Wahlisch, Gerhard Neukum
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 commercial dig
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
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 form. One a
Authors
Manfred Buchroithner, Thomas Gründemann, Randolph L. Kirk, Klaus Habermann
Initial results of rover localization and topographic mapping for the 2003 mars exploration rover mission
This paper presents the initial results of lander and rover localization and topographic mapping of the MER 2003 mission (by Sol 225 for Spirit and Sol 206 for Opportunity). The Spirit rover has traversed a distance of 3.2 km (actual distance traveled instead of odometry) and Opportunity at 1.2 km. We localized the landers in the Gusev Crater and on the Meridiani Planum using two-way Doppler radio
Authors
Rongxing Li, Steven W. Squyres, Raymond E. Arvidson, Brent A. Archinal, James F. Bell, Yang Cheng, Larry S. Crumpler, David J. Des Marais, Kaichang Di, Todd A. Ely, Matthew P. Golombek, Eric Graat, John Grant, Joe Guinn, Andrew C. Johnson, Ronald Greeley, Randolph L. Kirk, Mark Maimone, Laurence A. Soderblom, Shane D. Thompson, Jue Wang, Patrick L. Whelley, Fengliang Xu
Joint analysis of visible and infrared images
Analysis of data combining daytime visible reflected, daytime IR emitted, and nighttime IR emitted images allows us to isolate the physical effects of topography, albedo, and thermal inertia. To a good approximation, these physical influences interact linearly so that maps showing topographic shading, albedo, and relative thermal inertia can be produced by simple algebraic manipulation of the co-r
Authors
Randolph L. Kirk, Laurence A. Soderblom, Glen E. Cushing, Timothy A. Tituus
HRSC on Mars Express: Photogrammetric and cartographic research
The High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on the European spacecraft Mars Express is the first camera on a planetary mission especially designed for photogrammetric and cartographic purposes. Since January 2004 the camera has been taking image data from the Martian surface, characterized by high-resolution, stereo capability and color. These data provide an enormous potential for the generation of
Authors
Jeorg Albertz, Maria Attwenger, Janet M. Barrett, Simon Casley, Peter Dorninger, Egon Dorrer, Heinrich Ebner, Stephan Gehrke, Bernd Giese, Klaus Gwinner, Christian Heipke, Elpitha Howington-Kraus, Randolph L. Kirk, Hartmut Lehmann, Helmut Mayer, Jan-Peter Muller, Juergen Oberst, Alexey Ostrovskiy, Joerg Renter, Sergiy Reznik, Ralph George Schmidt, Frank Scholten, Michael Spiegel, Uwe Stilla, Marita Wählisch, Gerhard Neukum
The rayed crater Zunil and interpretations of small impact craters on Mars
A 10-km diameter crater named Zunil in the Cerberus Plains of Mars created ∼107 secondary craters 10 to 200 m in diameter. Many of these secondary craters are concentrated in radial streaks that extend up to 1600 km from the primary crater, identical to lunar rays. Most of the larger Zunil secondaries are distinctive in both visible and thermal infrared imaging. MOC images of the secondary craters
Authors
Alfred S. McEwen, Brandon S. Preblich, Elizabeth P. Turtle, Natalia A. Artemieva, Matthew P. Golombek, Michelle Hurst, Randolph L. Kirk, Devon M. Burr, Phillip R. Christensen
Cassini radar views the surface of Titan
The Cassini Titan Radar Mapper imaged about 1% of Titan's surface at a resolution of ∼0.5 kilometer, and larger areas of the globe in lower resolution modes. The images reveal a complex surface, with areas of low relief and a variety of geologic features suggestive of dome-like volcanic constructs, flows, and sinuous channels. The surface appears to be young, with few impact craters. Scattering an
Authors
C. Elachi, S. Wall, M. Allison, Y. Anderson, R. Boehmer, P. Callahan, P. Encrenaz, E. Flamini, G. Franceschetti, Y. Gim, G. Hamilton, S. Hensley, M. Janssen, W. Johnson, K. Kelleher, Randolph L. Kirk, R. Lopes, R. Lorenz, J. Lunine, D. Muhleman, S. Ostro, F. Paganelli, G. Picardi, F. Posa, L. Roth, R. Seu, S. Shaffer, Laurence A. Soderblom, B. Stiles, E. Stofan, S. Vetrella, R. West, C. Wood, L. Wye, H. Zebker
Photogrammetric analysis of the Mars Global Surveyor mapping data
This paper studies the photogrammetric mapping properties and capabilities of the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) mapping data. Starting from the raw MGS data, we decompress the MOC narrow angle images, extract, and calculate their exterior orientation from the SPICE kernels, and calculate the 3D coordinates of MOLA footprints from MOLA PEDR files. A new approach is proposed that registers a MOLA profi
Authors
Jie Shan, Jong-suk Yoon, D. Scott Lee, Randolph L. Kirk, Gregory Neumann, Charles H. Acton
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 161
Cartography for lunar exploration: 2006 status and planned missions
The initial spacecraft exploration of the Moon in the 1960s–70s yielded extensive data, primarily in the form of film and television images, that were used to produce a large number of hardcopy maps by conventional techniques. A second era of exploration, beginning in the early 1990s, has produced digital data including global multispectral imagery and altimetry, from which a new generation of dig
Authors
Randolph L. Kirk, Brent A. Archinal, Lisa R. Gaddis, Mark R. Rosiek
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 mapping, w
Authors
Elpitha Howington-Kraus, Randolph L. Kirk, Donna M. Galuszka, Bonnie L. Redding
The HRSC DTM test
The High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) has been orbiting the planet Mars since January 2004 onboard the ESA Mars Express mission and delivers imagery which is being used for topographic mapping of the planet. The HRSC team is currently conducting a systematic inter-comparison of different alternatives for the production of high resolution Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) from the multilook HRSC pus
Authors
Christian Heipke, Jürgen Oberst, Jeorg Albertz, Maria Attwenger, Peter Dorninger, Egon Dorrer, M. Ewe, Stephan Gehrke, Klaus Gwinner, H. Hirschmuller, J.R. Kim, Randolph L. Kirk, H. Mayer, Jan-Peter Muller, Rajagopalan Rengarajan, M. Rentsch, R. Schmidt, Frank Scholten, J. Shan, Michael Spiegel, M. Wahlisch, Gerhard Neukum
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 commercial dig
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
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 form. One a
Authors
Manfred Buchroithner, Thomas Gründemann, Randolph L. Kirk, Klaus Habermann
Initial results of rover localization and topographic mapping for the 2003 mars exploration rover mission
This paper presents the initial results of lander and rover localization and topographic mapping of the MER 2003 mission (by Sol 225 for Spirit and Sol 206 for Opportunity). The Spirit rover has traversed a distance of 3.2 km (actual distance traveled instead of odometry) and Opportunity at 1.2 km. We localized the landers in the Gusev Crater and on the Meridiani Planum using two-way Doppler radio
Authors
Rongxing Li, Steven W. Squyres, Raymond E. Arvidson, Brent A. Archinal, James F. Bell, Yang Cheng, Larry S. Crumpler, David J. Des Marais, Kaichang Di, Todd A. Ely, Matthew P. Golombek, Eric Graat, John Grant, Joe Guinn, Andrew C. Johnson, Ronald Greeley, Randolph L. Kirk, Mark Maimone, Laurence A. Soderblom, Shane D. Thompson, Jue Wang, Patrick L. Whelley, Fengliang Xu
Joint analysis of visible and infrared images
Analysis of data combining daytime visible reflected, daytime IR emitted, and nighttime IR emitted images allows us to isolate the physical effects of topography, albedo, and thermal inertia. To a good approximation, these physical influences interact linearly so that maps showing topographic shading, albedo, and relative thermal inertia can be produced by simple algebraic manipulation of the co-r
Authors
Randolph L. Kirk, Laurence A. Soderblom, Glen E. Cushing, Timothy A. Tituus
HRSC on Mars Express: Photogrammetric and cartographic research
The High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on the European spacecraft Mars Express is the first camera on a planetary mission especially designed for photogrammetric and cartographic purposes. Since January 2004 the camera has been taking image data from the Martian surface, characterized by high-resolution, stereo capability and color. These data provide an enormous potential for the generation of
Authors
Jeorg Albertz, Maria Attwenger, Janet M. Barrett, Simon Casley, Peter Dorninger, Egon Dorrer, Heinrich Ebner, Stephan Gehrke, Bernd Giese, Klaus Gwinner, Christian Heipke, Elpitha Howington-Kraus, Randolph L. Kirk, Hartmut Lehmann, Helmut Mayer, Jan-Peter Muller, Juergen Oberst, Alexey Ostrovskiy, Joerg Renter, Sergiy Reznik, Ralph George Schmidt, Frank Scholten, Michael Spiegel, Uwe Stilla, Marita Wählisch, Gerhard Neukum
The rayed crater Zunil and interpretations of small impact craters on Mars
A 10-km diameter crater named Zunil in the Cerberus Plains of Mars created ∼107 secondary craters 10 to 200 m in diameter. Many of these secondary craters are concentrated in radial streaks that extend up to 1600 km from the primary crater, identical to lunar rays. Most of the larger Zunil secondaries are distinctive in both visible and thermal infrared imaging. MOC images of the secondary craters
Authors
Alfred S. McEwen, Brandon S. Preblich, Elizabeth P. Turtle, Natalia A. Artemieva, Matthew P. Golombek, Michelle Hurst, Randolph L. Kirk, Devon M. Burr, Phillip R. Christensen
Cassini radar views the surface of Titan
The Cassini Titan Radar Mapper imaged about 1% of Titan's surface at a resolution of ∼0.5 kilometer, and larger areas of the globe in lower resolution modes. The images reveal a complex surface, with areas of low relief and a variety of geologic features suggestive of dome-like volcanic constructs, flows, and sinuous channels. The surface appears to be young, with few impact craters. Scattering an
Authors
C. Elachi, S. Wall, M. Allison, Y. Anderson, R. Boehmer, P. Callahan, P. Encrenaz, E. Flamini, G. Franceschetti, Y. Gim, G. Hamilton, S. Hensley, M. Janssen, W. Johnson, K. Kelleher, Randolph L. Kirk, R. Lopes, R. Lorenz, J. Lunine, D. Muhleman, S. Ostro, F. Paganelli, G. Picardi, F. Posa, L. Roth, R. Seu, S. Shaffer, Laurence A. Soderblom, B. Stiles, E. Stofan, S. Vetrella, R. West, C. Wood, L. Wye, H. Zebker
Photogrammetric analysis of the Mars Global Surveyor mapping data
This paper studies the photogrammetric mapping properties and capabilities of the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) mapping data. Starting from the raw MGS data, we decompress the MOC narrow angle images, extract, and calculate their exterior orientation from the SPICE kernels, and calculate the 3D coordinates of MOLA footprints from MOLA PEDR files. A new approach is proposed that registers a MOLA profi
Authors
Jie Shan, Jong-suk Yoon, D. Scott Lee, Randolph L. Kirk, Gregory Neumann, Charles H. Acton