On Multi-Resolution 3D Orbital Imagery and Visualisation for Mars Geological Analysis

Mars Science Laboratory has revealed a dynamic history of water as the rover has ascended the mysterious Mount Sharp in Gale crater. Because rovers only “see” their local environment, planetary scientists rely on satellite-based orbital imagery to understand the regional geology of Gale crater. However, orbital imagery is map-view—viewed from above, lacking perspective—which presents challenges to interpretation of stratigraphy. 3D visualisation is an emerging opportunity to study orbital images in more intuitive, field-like environments, but has had limited application to Mars. In this work, I formulate and analyse 3D orbital imagery over Gale crater, Mars to investigate the stratigraphy of Mount Sharp 700 m above and 40 km away from MSL. First, I process orbital imagery from the HRSC, CTX, and HiRISE cameras into 3D digital terrain models (DTMs). I then co-register and evaluate these DTMs using statistical tools and existing products to build a new, validated, multi-resolution basemap tied down to MOLA. Sakarya Vallis, a 400-m deep canyon on Mount Sharp, was then analysed in a 3D environment at 1 m/px. From measurements of exposed rock layers, I construct cross-sections, stratigraphic logs, and a geological unit map to capture this geology. Seven geological units are interpreted across 1 km of exposure, varying in thicknesses (10–174 m) and dips (3–12º). These units may reveal a cyclic depositional environment; a progradational sequence and channel; and unconformities. This work therefore suggests two periods of sub-aqueous deposition in this region during the Late Noachian to Early Hesperian. These results further provide geological context of Gale crater as MSL ascends Mount Sharp, and future inputs for palaeoenvironmental models of Gale crater

Investigating Europa’s habitability with the Europa Clipper

The habitability of Europa is a property within a system, which is driven by a multitude of physical and chemical processes and is defined by many interdependent parameters, so that its full characterization requires collaborative investigation. To explore Europa as an integrated system to yield a complete picture of its habitability, the Europa Clipper mission has three primary science objectives: (1) characterize the ice shell and ocean including their heterogeneity, properties, and the nature of surface–ice–ocean exchange; (2) characterize Europa’s composition including any non-ice materials on the surface and in the atmosphere, and any carbon-containing compounds; and (3) characterize Europa’s geology including surface features and localities of high science interest. The mission will also address several cross-cutting science topics including the search for any current or recent activity in the form of thermal anomalies and plumes, performing geodetic and radiation measurements, and assessing high-resolution, co-located observations at select sites to provide reconnaissance for a potential future landed mission. Synthesizing the mission’s science measurements, as well as incorporating remote observations by Earth-based observatories, the James Webb Space Telescope, and other space-based resources, to constrain Europa’s habitability, is a complex task and is guided by the mission’s Habitability Assessment Board (HAB)

Space Science in Context: Lessons Learned and Recommendations for IDEA Practice and Beyond

No abstract available

30-m HRSC DTM Mosaic of Gale Crater, Mars

Digital terrain model (DTM) mosaic of Gale crater, Mars, processed from High-Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) stereo images using the modification of DLR-VICAR described by Kim and Muller (2009). Format: GeoTiff Projection: Equidistant cylindrical Datum: Spheroid (r = 3396.190 km) Bit depth: Float32 Grid-spacing: 30 m/pixel Terrain reference: 200-m MOLA and HRSC blended global DTM (Fergason et al. 2018) HRSC source images: H1938_0000, H1927_0000, and H1916_0000The first author is now at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California. Contact: [email protected]

Correlation of Surface and Subsurface Properties when Choosing a Sampling Site: Applications from Mars and the Moon to Sampling Locations on Europa and Other Ocean Worlds

No abstract available

The Application of Lessons Learned from Previous Landing and/or Sampling Missions to the Europa Lander Mission Concept

No abstract available

A Reconnaissance Strategy for Landing on Europa, Based on Europa Clipper Data

No abstract available

Applying Lessons Learned from Previous Planetary Missions to Reconnaissance and Landing Site Selection for the Europa Lander Mission Concept

No abstract available