1998 SPACE SCIENCE VIDEOTAPES |
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Tape Title | Record ID | Date Produced | TRT: |
Synopsis |
| MOLA EXPLORES THE POLAR LANDSCAPES AND CLOUDS OF MARS | G98-028 | 5/27/98 | 00:05:42 | Mars Global Surveyor gathers treasure trove of new data--Of particular interest is data about the Martian north polar ice cap, which is being gathered by Surveyor's laser altimeter. Principal Investigator Dr. David Smith of NASA's Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, and his team have been using the laser altimeter to measure the topography of the polar cap in order to calculate its thickness. In June, the ice cap's thickness will reach a maximum during the height of the northern winter season. Thickness measurements from April compared to those that will be taken in June will contribute to a greater understanding of the Martian polar cap formation.
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TAPE CONTENTS: |
| ITEM (1 ): MOLA MEASURES MARS POLAR REGIONS -Animation shows the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) onboard the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) spacecraft collecting data of the north polar cap on Mars. Scientists are using the laser altimeter to measure the topography of the polar cap in order to calculate its thickness.
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| ITEM (2): SURFACE MAPPING BEGINS - (2 animation sequences) - Animation depicting Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) onboard MGS. MOLA uses a laser to measure the extremes of the Martian topography with unprecedented detail. MOLA is the first planetary laser altimeter instrument, and opens the door for a new class of topographic remote sensing instruments, of great potential in both Earth and planetary science.
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| ITEM (3): MARTIAN MAPS:
a) Isidis Basin - The Isidis basin is an old, degraded basin in the North Hemisphere the basis is a flat expense, almost 4 km below the mean Martian surface. Isidis very flat except where modified by younger impact craters.
b) Tharsis Region - This image of the Tharsis Region shows MOLA's track across the giant canyons; Noctis Fossae, Labyrinthus, & Valles Marineris revealing 9km deep chasms.
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| ITEM (4): MARTIAN 3D MAPPING - Data from MOLA will be used to create three dimensional maps illustrating details of the Martian topography. This is an excerpt from "Mars...the Movie," produced by JPL.
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| ITEM (5): INTERVIEW - DR. DAVE SMITH, HEAD, LABORATORY FOR TERRESTRIAL PHYSICS, GSFC
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