Planetary imaging: past, present, and future.
Abstract
Recent exploration of the planets has been highlighted by the development of visual imaging systems carried on board the spacecraft. This paper describes the evolution of planetary camera systems from the earliest reconnaissance flight to Mars in 1965 (Mariner 4) through the planned mission to Jupiter and Saturn in 1977. Advances in telecommunication performance, mission planning and operations, and digital processing of images are also discussed. Science objectives and changes in the imaging systems required to meet these objectives are discussed for the Mariner Mars 1971 (Mariner 9), Mariner Venus-Mercury (Mariner 10), Viking 1975 (Mars Orbiter), and Mariner Jupiter-Saturn 1977 missions. The last section of the paper describes future plans for imaging experiments based on cameras using solid-state sensors, particularly charge-coupled devices.
- Publication:
-
IEEE Transactions on Geoscience Electronics
- Pub Date:
- July 1976
- DOI:
- 10.1109/TGE.1976.294444
- Bibcode:
- 1976ITGE...14..122M
- Keywords:
-
- Imaging Techniques;
- Space Exploration;
- Space Missions;
- Spaceborne Photography;
- Technology Assessment;
- Charge Coupled Devices;
- Data Processing;
- Mariner Jupiter-Saturn Flyby;
- Mariner Venus-Mercury 1973;
- Mariner 9 Space Probe;
- Spacecraft Instruments;
- Technological Forecasting;
- Television Systems;
- Viking Mars Program