Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)

Objectives:

1. Obtain Global Synoptic Views of the Martian Atmosphere and Surface to Study Meteorological, Climatological and Related Surface Changes
2. Monitor Surface and Atmosphere Features at Moderate Resolution for Changes on Time Scales of Hours, Days, Weeks, Months and Years
3. Systematically Examine Local Areas at Extremely High Spatial Resolution in Order to Quantify Surface/Atmosphere Interactions and Geological Processes

Instrumentation:

A line scan camera incorporating both wide angle (140 degree) and narrow angle (0.4 degree) optics for producing global coverage (7.5 km/pixel), selective moderate resolution images (280 m/pixel) and very selective high resolution (1.4 m/pixel) images.

Measurements:

Global Atmosphere and Surface Phenomena at several Spatial Scales

• Optics:
  • Wide Angle: 11.3 mm, f/6.5, 140 degree FOV
  • Narrow Angle: 3.5m, f/10, 0.4 degree FOV
• Resolution:
  • Wide Angle: 280 m/pixel at Nadir, 2 km/pixel at Limb
  • Narrow Angle: 1.4 m/pixel
• Detectors:
  • Wide Angle: 3456 Element Line Scan CCD Array
  • Narrow Angle: 2048 Element Line Scan CCD Array
• Spectral Response:
  • Wide Angle: 0.58 micron (Red), 0.40 micron to 0.45 micron (Blue)
  • Narrow Angle: 0.50 micron to 0.90 micron
• Signal to Noise, >20:1 for Albedo of 0.1 at 70 degree Incidence Angle
• Electronics
  • 32 bit (10 MHz, 1 MIPS) SA3300 Microprocessor, Four ASICs, 128 kbytes EPROM, 192 kbyte SRAM, 12 Mbyte DRAM Buffer
  • Data Rates: 700, 2856, 9120, 29260 (real time) bits/sec
  • Commands: 290 to 6000 bytes/day
  • Redundant Design has Six 35 cm diameter Circuit Boards, 38,000 lines of C Code

Science Team

M. Malin, MSSS - Principal Investigator

Co-Investigators:

G. Danielson - Caltech

A. Ingersoll - Caltech

L. Soderblom - USGS

J. Veverka - Cornell U