Radiometric performance of the Viking Mars lander cameras
Abstract
The Viking lander cameras feature an array of 12 silicon photodiodes for electronic focus selection and multispectral imaging. Comparisons of absolute radiometric calibrations of the four cameras selected for the mission to Mars with performance predictions based on their design data revealed minor discrepancies. These discrepancies were caused primarily by the method used to calibrate the photosensor array and apparently also from light reflections internal to the array. The sensitivity and dynamic range of all camera channels are found to be sufficient for high quality pictures, providing that the commandable gains and offsets can be optimized for the scene radiance; otherwise, the quantization noise may be too high or the dynamic range too low for an adequate characterization of the scene.
- Publication:
-
NASA STI/Recon Technical Report N
- Pub Date:
- April 1975
- Bibcode:
- 1975STIN...7523921H
- Keywords:
-
- Cameras;
- Radiometers;
- Viking Lander Spacecraft;
- Viking Mars Program;
- Performance Prediction;
- Photodiodes;
- Photosensitivity;
- Signal To Noise Ratios;
- Tables (Data);
- Instrumentation and Photography