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Thermal Infrared Spectroscopy from Mars Landers and Rovers: A New Angle on Remote SensingThe MINUTES instrument of the Athena Precursor Experiment (APEX) on the Mars Surveyor 2001 lander mission will perform the first thermal infrared remote sensing observations from the surface of another planet. Experience gained from this experiment will be used to guide observations from identical instruments mounted on the Athena rovers, to be launched in 2003 and 2005. The utility of infrared spectrometers in determining the mineralogic composition of geologic surfaces from airborne and spaceborne platforms has been amply demonstrated. However, relatively little experience exists in using functionally similar instruments on the ground in the context of planetary science. What work has been done on this problem has mostly utilized field spectrometers that are designed to look down on nearby target rocks. While many Mini-TES observations will be made with this type of geometry, it is likely that other observations will be made looking horizontally at the more vertically-oriented facets of rock targets, to avoid spectral contamination from dust mantles. On rover missions, the Mini-TES may also be pointed horizontally at rocks several meters away, to determine if they are worthy of approaching for in situ observations and possible sample cacheing. While these observations will undoubtedly prove useful, there are important, and perhaps unappreciated, differences between horizontal-viewing, surface-based spectroscopy and the more traditional nadir-viewing, orbit or aircraft-based observations. Plans also exist to step the Mini-TES in a rastering motion to build hyperspectral scenes. Horizontal viewing hyperspectral cubes also possess unique qualities that call for innovative analysis techniques. The effect of viewing geometry: In thermal emission spectroscopy, regardless of whether an instrument is looking down on or horizontally at a target, the same basic equation governs the radiance reaching the sensor .
Document ID
20000012725
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Moersch, J.
(National Academy of Sciences - National Research Council Moffett Field, CA United States)
Horton, K.
(Hawaii Univ. Honolulu, HI United States)
Lucey, P.
(Hawaii Univ. Honolulu, HI United States)
Roush, T.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Ruff, S.
(Arizona State Univ. Tempe, AZ United States)
Smith, M.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1999
Publication Information
Publication: Workshop on Mars 2001: Integrated Science in Preparation for Sample Return and Human Exploration
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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