Methodology for the Creation and Analysis of a Comprehensive Mastcam Multispectral Database of the Curiosity Rover’s Traverse
Research Mentor(s)
Rice, Melissa S.
Description
Spectral data acquired by the Mastcam instrument aboard the Mars Curiosity rover is an invaluable tool for understanding the lithologic composition and geologic history of Gale Crater, Mars. Mastcam is a multispectral imager, capable of imaging scenes in a high spatial resolution with a filter set that spans the visible to near-infrared range. To characterize and catalogue geologically relevant spectra, we have analyzed hundreds of Mastcam images taken from across Curiosity’s traverse. From these images, we have identified spectral endmembers using a decorrelation stretch technique. From the endmembers, we have extracted individual spectra, and catalogued them along with other relevant data, such as elevation, time of image acquisition, and feature type. This collection of spectra forms the Mastcam Spectral Database, a collection of over 1700 spectra. To interact with this database, we created the Mastcam Spectral Plotter, an application interface to easily visualize and manipulate data in the Mastcam Spectral Database. With this application, a user can create plots, perform band math, apply corrections to data, identify outliers, and quickly query the entire database. The Mastcam Spectral Database and Plotter will be distributed to the Curiosity rover operations team, so that informed decisions can be made on the tactical timescale using Mastcam data. To better understand the spectral characteristics of Martian features, a principle component analysis (PCA) was performed on the Mastcam dataset. PCA is a procedure used to transform a dataset in a new component space in a way that ensures orthogonality and reveals the variance of each principle component. The principle components or eigenvectors that describe the Mastcam dataset have distinct geologic meaning. Plotting Mastcam spectra in a principle component space reveals distinct spectral classes of rocks, that can be used to determine the geologic history of the Gale Crater.
Document Type
Event
Start Date
15-5-2019 9:00 AM
End Date
15-5-2019 5:00 PM
Location
Carver Gym (Bellingham, Wash.)
Department
Physics/Astronomy
Genre/Form
student projects, posters
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Multispectral imaging; Spectral sensitivity; Geological mapping
Geographic Coverage
Mars (Planet)--Spectra; Mars (Planet)--Geology
Type
Image
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Methodology for the Creation and Analysis of a Comprehensive Mastcam Multispectral Database of the Curiosity Rover’s Traverse
Carver Gym (Bellingham, Wash.)
Spectral data acquired by the Mastcam instrument aboard the Mars Curiosity rover is an invaluable tool for understanding the lithologic composition and geologic history of Gale Crater, Mars. Mastcam is a multispectral imager, capable of imaging scenes in a high spatial resolution with a filter set that spans the visible to near-infrared range. To characterize and catalogue geologically relevant spectra, we have analyzed hundreds of Mastcam images taken from across Curiosity’s traverse. From these images, we have identified spectral endmembers using a decorrelation stretch technique. From the endmembers, we have extracted individual spectra, and catalogued them along with other relevant data, such as elevation, time of image acquisition, and feature type. This collection of spectra forms the Mastcam Spectral Database, a collection of over 1700 spectra. To interact with this database, we created the Mastcam Spectral Plotter, an application interface to easily visualize and manipulate data in the Mastcam Spectral Database. With this application, a user can create plots, perform band math, apply corrections to data, identify outliers, and quickly query the entire database. The Mastcam Spectral Database and Plotter will be distributed to the Curiosity rover operations team, so that informed decisions can be made on the tactical timescale using Mastcam data. To better understand the spectral characteristics of Martian features, a principle component analysis (PCA) was performed on the Mastcam dataset. PCA is a procedure used to transform a dataset in a new component space in a way that ensures orthogonality and reveals the variance of each principle component. The principle components or eigenvectors that describe the Mastcam dataset have distinct geologic meaning. Plotting Mastcam spectra in a principle component space reveals distinct spectral classes of rocks, that can be used to determine the geologic history of the Gale Crater.