Viking Lander 1 detailed w/MRO, Results of imaging process VL1 detailed with MRO Options

[vikingmars]

Thanks to the MRO the Viking Lander 1 site has been viewed twice already at nerly the same Mars local time :
- PSP_001521_2025_RED.jp2 taken on 11 November 2006 (w/30.3 cm/pixel resolution) at 3:20 PM ;
- PSP_001719_2025_RED.JP2 taken on 12 december 2006 (w/28.8 cm/pixel resolution) at 3:27 PM.

So I decided to pixel overlap the 2 pictures retrieved from the LPL site at their maximum resolution (as "full JPEG 2000" images), knowing that each individual pixel from those 2 images would not cover exactly the same area on Mars.
The goal was :
1. to gain some resolution over individual pictures ;
2. to assess the reality of some features as seen from orbit ;
3. to determine is some individual Lander components could be seen ;
4. to see an "average" site free from bad pixel and false features.

After a painstaking process, here are the results on the 4 goals :
1. resolution gained : ==> not obvious on overlap image ;
2. reality of some features : ==> real features are seen on overlap image ;
3. Lander components : ==> some individual components discriminated ;
4. "average" site free from bad pixel and false features ==> goal attained.

About the lander itself : the shadow seen for its high-gain antenna mast and for its antenna itself is narrow. This implies that the disk-shaped antenna was not facing the sun when the images were taken, meaning that the high-gain antenna is pointing either towards the north or towards the south.

The same overlap processings were also applied to the area where the backshell touched down the surface with its parachute ==> An overlap image is seen also.

About the landing site itself around Lander 1 with its features, please refer to the explanations given it the previous post :
http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.p...ost&p=79379

Enjoy !

[vikingmars]

(following images)

Attached thumbnail(s)

 

[climber]

Thanks to share this high quality work with us Olivier.

I have 2 questions :
1- when you say "the high-gain antenna is pointing either towards the north or towards the south", this means that we actualy don't know where V1 was pointing the last time we heard from it ?
2- do you think that with a differents time passes of MRO we could see other details... like arm shadow ? (I'm not sure the timing can change a lot, but may be seasonal changes could do the trick)
As they're looking for targets suggestions, this could be one.

I can see that you still love your bird...

[Decepticon]

I hope we can add to this in the future again!

[vikingmars]

Thanks to share this high quality work with us Olivier.

I have 2 questions :
1- when you say "the high-gain antenna is pointing either towards the north or towards the south", this means that we actualy don't know where V1 was pointing the last time we heard from it ?
2- do you think that with a differents time passes of MRO we could see other details... like arm shadow ? (I'm not sure the timing can change a lot, but may be seasonal changes could do the trick)
As they're looking for targets suggestions, this could be one.

I can see that you still love your bird...

Hello Climber ! Thanks :
==> Yes : I have always considered VL1 as a "pet" having taking care of all its images processings and data archival until 1984 during my stays at JPL ;
==> Yes, we don't know where the antenna was pointing after the last command was sent from Earth on November 19, 1982, when a command sequence intended to make changes to the battery - charging sequence was uplinked to VL1. And shortly after, it was identifed that the new battery-charging sequence had been written into its memory locations occupied by the high-gain antenna pointing parameters : thus, the VL1 antenna was no longer pointing to Earth...
==> The more images we have, the more details we can retrieve, especially if they decide to lower MRO's orbit at the end of its mission !

[SpaceListener]

(following images)

Not sure about the shape of Viking spacecraft. I tought it had three legs and hence it is triangle. The picture shows it is of oval shape.

[Gsnorgathon]

The Viking lander's three legs form a nice triangle, but the two fuel tanks sticking out from two sides give it a more oblong appearance from above. I wasn't able to find any good views in a semi-quick search, but scroll to the bottom of this Master Models page and click the thumbnail, or try this drawing.

[vikingmars]

Here is a simulation done with my VL1 model to help you understand the shadows seen on the overlap image.
VL1 model link on the Umsf :
http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.p...ost&p=25600
Enjoy !

Attached thumbnail(s)

 

[climber]

Hello Olivier! Thanks for the answer.
I guess you'll also enjoy this status report from JPL "Mars Orbiter's camera concern resolved" : http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2007-093a
As you point out, this could lead to get pictures from a lower orbit.

[nprev]

VM, that is sweet... ...hadn't seen your model before, incredible! You even have the sampling arm trenches, and I'm sure that the rocks are all correct as well; quite an achievement.

[vikingmars]

Dear Nprev, Thanks !
As you see, this model serves now for the purpose for which it was built in 1982 : assessing the possibility or not to see VL1 from Mars orbit by simulating its shadows at specific Mars local time hours
Now, we have to wait for the next MRO images to come : maybe I'll be able to discern the discarded soil sampler shroud close to footpad #3... Its shadow is close to be seen...

[SpaceListener]

Here is a simulation done with my VL1 model to help you understand the shadows seen on the overlap image.
VL1 model link on the Umsf :
http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.p...ost&p=25600
Enjoy !

Thanks Oliver.
Polar Pictures on the Viking 1 dated on the year 76! Congratulations.

[Phil Stooke]

Olivier, did you make a Viking 2 site model? Viking 1 is excellent.

Phil

[vikingmars]

Olivier, did you make a Viking 2 site model? Viking 1 is excellent. Phil

Dear Phil,
The Lander model itself was to be used also as VL2 on a specific Utopia model. I started modelling the Vl2 site which was to be with winter frost for scenic purposes and for easier differentiation should it was to be shown on exhibits... After the very end of the mission in 1983 when all hopes of recovering VL1 were lost, this Utopia work was never completed. When I worked with Jim French at JPL at the very start of the MGCO project (renamed later as Mars Observer), we did numerous shadows simulations with the Lander model and found that MGCO's hi-res camera (MOC with 1.5 m/pixel resolution) could probably not discern VL1 or VL2 at local hours between 10:00 am to 14:00 pm, because the Lander protruding parts and its small shadows then PLUS the dust covering part of it made the Lander looking very much from above like another pile of rocks... What we understood was that we needed either an higher-resolution camera (50 cm/pixel minimum resolution was required) or MOC images taken with a rising or setting sun which casts long shadows on the Landers...

[vikingmars]

Thanks to the MRO the Viking Lander 1 site has been viewed twice already at nerly the same Mars local time :
- PSP_001521_2025_RED.jp2 taken on 11 November 2006 (w/30.3 cm/pixel resolution) at 3:20 PM ;
- PSP_001719_2025_RED.JP2 taken on 12 december 2006 (w/28.8 cm/pixel resolution) at 3:27 PM.

Enjoy !

...So I just merged the final RED hi-res panchromatic image (see hereabove) with the color product found on MRO's website !
Now you see the VL1 site in full color at its maximum resolution...
Enjoy !