CCD image sensors record Martian weather

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is searching for evidence that water persisted on the surface of Mars by closely scanning the surface of the planet.

As the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) approaches the three-year anniversary of its launch, imaging technology from Eastman Kodak company continues to enable the orbiter to explore the red planet.

Using images captured by Kodak CCD image sensors, the orbiter will soon fulfill one of its primary mission objectives, the collection of a full Martian year of weather data for the planet, and has already mapped over one-third of the planet's entire surface.

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is searching for evidence that water persisted on the surface of Mars by closely scanning the surface of the planet, analysing minerals, searching for subsurface water, observing dust and water patterns in the atmosphere and monitoring daily weather.

Kodak image sensors are used in two key components of the orbiter: the Mars colour imager, used to provide daily weather reports for the planet and the context camera, which captures wide-area views of the surface to help provide a context for high-resolution analysis of key locations on the planet.

Both of these systems - designed and operated by Malin Space Science Systems - are based on Kodak CCD image sensors used in applications here on Earth.

Michael Miller, manager of Kodak's CCD image sensor business, said "We congratulate the entire MRO team and especially Malin Space Science Systems, on reaching these milestones in their continued quest to unlock the secrets of Mars".

"Performance, reliability and cost are all critical when developing imaging systems for spaceflight", said Michael Ravine, Advanced Projects Manager, Malin Space Science Systems (MSSS).

"Kodak sensors have proven time and again that they excel in providing high-quality images even under the very demanding conditions of spaceflight".

"And Kodak's ability to deliver this robustness in devices that are commercially available helps us not only shorten the time needed to develop these systems, but also to control overall project costs without sacrificing imaging requirements".

Daily weather data for Mars is collected by the orbiter using the Mars colour imager (MARCI), a camera which monitors the surface and atmosphere of the planet across five visible and two ultraviolet wavelengths.

This camera is based on the Kodak KAI-1001 image sensor, a one-megapixel device that provides both high sensitivity and high dynamic range.

The orbiter's context camera (CTX) is based on the Kodak KLI-5001 image sensor, a 5000-pixel linear CCD device that scans the surface of the planet as the orbiter passes overhead.

Providing a resolution of 6m per pixel, this camera has now mapped over one-third of the planet's surface and is also being used to help evaluate potential landing sites for the 2009 Mars Science Laboratory rover mission.

The Kodak KAI-1001 image sensor used on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter flew on both the Mars Climate Orbiter and Mars Polar Lander missions and can be found today in the thermal emission imaging system (THEMIS) camera of the Mars Odyssey Orbiter and in the super resolution channel (SRC) camera of the Mars Express orbiter.

The Venus monitoring camera (VMC) of the Venus Express orbiter is based on the Kodak KAI-1010 image sensor and Kodak CCD image sensors are also used routinely in cameras operated by astronauts on both the International Space Station as well as across the space shuttle fleet.

Upcoming space missions will further expand the use of Kodak image sensors to include not only orbiters around both the moon and Jupiter, but also a new mission back to Mars - the Mars Science Laboratory rover, which is scheduled to launch in 2009.

Kodak CCD image sensors will be used on four separate camera systems on this mission, including the Mars Descent Imager (recently delivered to NASA / JPL) as well as the Mast Camera, the science imaging "workhorse" of the rover.

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