Dataset Information

The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Mast cameras and Descent imager: Investigation and instrument descriptions.

ABSTRACT: The Mars Science Laboratory Mast camera and Descent Imager investigations were designed, built, and operated by Malin Space Science Systems of San Diego, CA. They share common electronics and focal plane designs but have different optics. There are two Mastcams of dissimilar focal length. The Mastcam-34 has an f/8, 34 mm focal length lens, and the M-100 an f/10, 100 mm focal length lens. The M-34 field of view is about 20° × 15° with an instantaneous field of view (IFOV) of 218 μrad; the M-100 field of view (FOV) is 6.8° × 5.1° with an IFOV of 74 μrad. The M-34 can focus from 0.5 m to infinity, and the M-100 from ~1.6 m to infinity. All three cameras can acquire color images through a Bayer color filter array, and the Mastcams can also acquire images through seven science filters. Images are ≤1600 pixels wide by 1200 pixels tall. The Mastcams, mounted on the ~2 m tall Remote Sensing Mast, have a 360° azimuth and ~180° elevation field of regard. Mars Descent Imager is fixed-mounted to the bottom left front side of the rover at ~66 cm above the surface. Its fixed focus lens is in focus from ~2 m to infinity, but out of focus at 66 cm. The f/3 lens has a FOV of ~70° by 52° across and along the direction of motion, with an IFOV of 0.76 mrad. All cameras can acquire video at 4 frames/second for full frames or 720p HD at 6 fps. Images can be processed using lossy Joint Photographic Experts Group and predictive lossless compression.

SUBMITTER: Malin MC

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5652233 | biostudies-other | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Mast cameras and Descent imager: Investigation and instrument descriptions.

Malin Michal C MC Ravine Michael A MA Caplinger Michael A MA Tony Ghaemi F F Schaffner Jacob A JA Maki Justin N JN Bell James F JF Cameron James F JF Dietrich William E WE Edgett Kenneth S KS Edwards Laurence J LJ Garvin James B JB Hallet Bernard B Herkenhoff Kenneth E KE Heydari Ezat E Kah Linda C LC Lemmon Mark T MT Minitti Michelle E ME Olson Timothy S TS Parker Timothy J TJ Rowland Scott K SK Schieber Juergen J Sletten Ron R Sullivan Robert J RJ Sumner Dawn Y DY Aileen Yingst R R Duston Brian M BM McNair Sean S Jensen Elsa H EH

Earth and space science (Hoboken, N.J.) 20170819 8

The Mars Science Laboratory Mast camera and Descent Imager investigations were designed, built, and operated by Malin Space Science Systems of San Diego, CA. They share common electronics and focal plane designs but have different optics. There are two Mastcams of dissimilar focal length. The Mastcam-34 has an f/8, 34 mm focal length lens, and the M-100 an f/10, 100 mm focal length lens. The M-34 field of view is about 20° × 15° with an instantaneous field of view (IFOV) of 218 μrad; the M-100 f ...[more]

PMID: 29098171

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Dataset Information

The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Mast cameras and Descent imager: Investigation and instrument descriptions.

Publications

The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Mast cameras and Descent imager: Investigation and instrument descriptions.

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