Celestial Software Scratches
More Than the Surface
Computer Technology
Originating Technology/ NASA Contribution
While NASA is preparing to send humans back to
the Moon by 2020 and then eventually to Mars, the
average person can explore the landscapes of these
celestial bodies much sooner, without the risk
and training—and without even leaving the comfort
of home.
Geological data and imagery collected from NASA missions are enabling anybody
with computer access to virtually follow the footsteps of Apollo astronauts who
walked on the Moon or trace the tracks of the exploration rovers currently on
Mars.
Partnership
Reading Information Technology, Inc. (RITI), of Reading, Massachusetts, received
access to Moon- and Mars-mapping data from NASA via the U.S. Geological Survey
(USGS), a Federal source for reliable, scientific information. The technical
service and software-engineering company adapted the NASA data to create a powerful
software suite that lets users explore accurate 3-D models of the Moon and Mars.
In developing its lunar-mapping software, RITI configured Moon data retrieved
from the Deep Space Program Science Experiment. Commonly referred to as the “Clementine”
mission, this experiment was a joint project between NASA, the Ballistic Missile
Defense Organization (now the Missile Defense Agency), the U.S. Naval Research
Laboratory, and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The objectives were
to test sensors and spacecraft components under extended exposure to the space
environment and observe both the Moon and the near-Earth asteroid, 1620 Geographos.
(The Geographos observations were not actually made due to a
malfunction in a thruster that caused the spacecraft to spin uncontrollably.)
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Data acquired
by the Clementine spacecraft indicate that
there is ice in the bottom of a crater on the
Moon. |
The Moon observations, made at various wavelengths in the visible spectrum, as
well as in ultraviolet and infrared, were processed (post-mission) by the USGS
for the purposes of obtaining multispectral imaging of the entire lunar surface
and assessing the surface mineralogy. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center captured
and processed the altimetry and gravity data.
The Clementine spacecraft that collected all of this information was launched
on January 25, 1994, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. It was the
first of a new class of small spacecraft to enable long-
duration deep space missions at low cost, using lightweight satellite technology.
After two Earth flybys, lunar insertion was achieved on February 19. Mapping
of the Moon’s 38 million square kilometers took place over approximately 2 months,
in two systematic mapping passes of the orbiting body. Four cameras were used
to take over 2 million images. Roughly 50,000 of the images were processed and
mosaicked to produce a global map of the Moon’s albedo (normalized brightness
or reflectivity). The mission resulted in the first ever uniform global lunar
topographic map. Additionally, the Pentagon announced in 1996 that the data acquired
by the Clementine spacecraft indicate that there is ice located at the south
pole of the Moon. Deposits of ice on the Moon could have many practical uses
for future manned exploration, because lunar water could serve as a source of
oxygen, as well as hydrogen, which could be used as rocket fuel.
Following on the lunar-mapping software, RITI released a Mars-mapping program
that is based on data tapped from NASA’s ongoing Mars Exploration Rover mission,
as well as information from previous assignments surveying the Red Planet, such
as the Viking, Pathfinder, and Global Surveyor missions. These endeavors returned
high-resolution images of volcanoes, lava plains, canyons, craters, wind-formed
features, and areas where water once flowed, helping NASA to characterize the
structure and composition of the planet’s atmosphere and surface.
RITI continues to draw from the current rover mission, as there is still much
to be learned about Earth’s nearest neighboring planet.
Product Outcome
In most cases, the expression “ask for the Moon” means to ask for something that
is typically out of reach or just about impossible to obtain; but in the case
of RITI’s lunar-mapping software, ask and you shall receive.
Advertised by RITI as the “most advanced, most detailed, and highest resolution
lunar software on the market,” Lunar Map Pro is a complete and comprehensive
mapping program for astronomers, astronomy students, and casual Moon observers.
The maps are
corrected in real time with full libration (tilting) so that users can accurately
visualize the different phases of the Moon. They can also be customized to match
the flipped and reversed views experienced through users’ telescopes and eyepieces.
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Celestial Explorer:
Mars comes complete with high-definition Mars
maps from NASA. Using these maps, individuals
can plot coordinates to precisely locate areas
of interest, such as the planet’s Cydonia Mensae
region. In 1976, the Viking 1 spacecraft photographed
a rock formation in this region that resembled
a human face (top left corner). High-resolution
photos taken since indicate that the formations
seen in the original, low-resolution image
likely resulted from unusual lighting and shadow
conditions, as they now look much less distinct
and more like a natural feature of the landscape. |
Lunar Map Pro hosts a database of approximately
8,200 near-side and far-side features, plus an almanac
that provides real-time data for observing locations.
Geographic information system navigational tools and advanced search capabilities
let users identify any physical feature of the Moon with pinpoint accuracy
at the click of the mouse; users can also measure
the actual sizes of and distances between features
and keep observational notes.
Lunar Map Pro continues to transport users well beyond the Moon’s surface with
a 3-D viewer. This function allows the individuals to create precise 3-D displays
of the rugged landscape, based on actual digital elevation models supplied by
NASA. Additionally, a resource viewer provides a variety of animations and video
clips, as well as easy access to numerous lunar Web sites.
A virtual walk on the Moon not enough? For those having a mania for Mars,
it seems that the best way to get there without going there is to strap into
your desk chairs and load RITI’s Celestial Explorer: Mars into
your computers.
According to RITI, Celestial Explorer: Mars contains the most complete Mars-feature
database commercially available. Possessing features and tools similar to its
Moon-mapping sister product, Celestial Explorer: Mars takes users on a voyage
around the Red Planet, allowing them to explore and measure actual canyons, mountains,
and craters—all of which can be called up by name in order to acquire historical
facts and geological information. Physical elements of interest include the Vallis
Marineris, a vast canyon system that is as long as the United States and 6 to
7 times deeper than the Grand Canyon, and the Olympus Mons, the largest known
volcano in the solar system. These geographical wonders, and more, can be displayed
in 3-D for the ultimate realistic experience.
As the Mars Exploration Rover mission carries on, RITI continues to update its
Mars package with the latest video and 360-degree images taken from the Spirit
and Opportunity robotic explorers, as well animated clips and educational games
for students.
A diverse pool of users are benefiting from Lunar Map Pro and Celestial Explorer:
Mars, including NASA’s Johnson Space Center and celebrated science fiction writer
Sir Arthur C. Clarke.
The two products are also receiving high marks from industry-related publications.
For example, Sky and Telescope magazine recently called Lunar Map Pro “the most
detailed software available” and Celestial Explorer: Mars “the next best thing
to being [on Mars].”
Lunar Map Pro™ and Celestial Explorer: Mars™ are
trademarks of Reading Information Technology, Inc.
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