SMART-1 uses new imaging technique in lunar orbit (Forwarded)
- From: Andrew Yee <ayee@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2005 19:56:17 -0500
ESA News http://www.esa.int
23 December 2005
SMART-1 uses new imaging technique in lunar orbit
ESA's SMART-1 spacecraft has been surveying the Moon's surface in visible and near-infrared light using a new technique, never before tried in lunar orbit.
For the last few months, the Advanced Moon Imaging Experiment (AMIE) on board SMART-1, has been opening new ground by attempting multi-spectral imaging in the 'push-broom' mode. This technique is particularly suited to colour imaging of the lunar surface.
(Note that 'colour imaging' here does not mean natural colour, the colour bands of the AMIE filters are in the infrared region and are selected such that the intensity of the iron absorption line can be determined from brightness ratios of the images.)
In this mode, AMIE takes images along a line on the Moon's surface perpendicular to the ground track of the spacecraft.
It relies on the orbital motion of the spacecraft to reposition it as it records a sequence of images known as an 'image swath'.
The AMIE camera on board SMART-1 has fixed-mounted filters which see the Moon in different colour bands. The figure shows four consecutive images taken by AMIE from left to right. The fixed filters are indicated by coloured frames.
The images, taken only a few seconds apart, show how the surface is moving through the different filters. The spacecraft is moving over the Moon's surface at a speed of more than a kilometre per second!
By combining images showing the same feature on the Moon as seen through different filters, colour information can be obtained. This allows to study the mineralogical composition on the lunar surface, which in turn lets scientists deduce details of the formation of our celestial companion.
Whereas the multi-spectral camera aboard the US Clementine mission had constant illumination conditions, SMART-1's orbit will offer different viewing angles. AMIE's views correlated with Clementine data of the same lunar areas will allow scientists to better interpret such spectral data.
For more information:
Jean-Luc Josset, SPACE-X Space Exploration Institute E-mail: jean-luc.josset @ space-x.ch
Bernard H. Foing, ESA SMART-1 Project Scientist E-mail: bernard.foing @ esa.int
More about...
* Looking at the Moon http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/SMART-1/index.html * SMART-1's dancing shadows at lunar north pole http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/SMART-1/SEMM44638FE_0.html * 'Alpine' landscape on the Moon http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/SMART-1/SEMM7R7X9DE_0.html * SMART-1 views Glushko crater on the Moon http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMXY2A5QCE_index_0.html * SMART-1 views Hadley Rille near Apollo 15 landing site http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMB7A808BE_index_0.html * SMART-1's tribute to Cassini http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/SMART-1/SEM4GN1DU8E_0.html * SMART-1's first images from the Moon http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/SMART-1/SEMJHDO3E4E_0.html * SMART-1 views Middle East and Mediterranean http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/SMART-1/SEMDNPV4QWD_0.html
Related links
* Space-X http://www.space-x.ch/ * Advanced Moon micro-Imager Experiment (AMIE) http://www.space-x.ch/Amie.htm
IMAGE CAPTIONS:
[Image 1:
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM9TL8A9HE_index_1.html]
The AMIE camera on board SMART-1 has three fixed-mounted filters which see the Moon in different colour bands. The figure shows four consecutive images taken by AMIE from left to right. The fixed filters are indicated by coloured frames. The images, taken only a few seconds apart, show how the surface is moving through the different filters.
Credits: AMIE Team
[Image 2:
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM9TL8A9HE_index_1.html#subhead1]
How three remote-sensing instruments on SMART-1 are scanning the Moon's surface during one pass. Repeated passes will gradually fill in the picture.
SMART-1 is the first of ESA's Small Missions for Advanced Research in Technology. It headed for the Moon using solar-electric propulsion and carrying a battery of miniaturised instruments.
As well as testing new technology, SMART-1 is making the first comprehensive inventory of key chemical elements in the lunar surface. It is also investigating the theory that the Moon was formed following the violent collision of a smaller planet with Earth, four and a half thousand million years ago.
Credits: AOES Medialab, ESA 2002
[Image 3: http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM9TL8A9HE_index_1.html#subhead2] Crater movement as a result of spacecraft moving. .
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