Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC)
Objectives:
- Obtain Global Synoptic Views of the Martian Atmosphere and Surface
to Study Meteorological, Climatological and Related Surface Changes
- Monitor Surface and Atmosphere Features at Moderate Resolution for
Changes on Time Scales of Hours, Days, Weeks, Months and Years
- 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