MISSION_DESCRIPTION |
Mission Overview
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Approximately 50 scientists from eight universities and three
NASA centers participated in the Geologic Remote Sensing Field
Experiment (GRSFE), which was co-sponsored by the NASA
Planetary Geology and Geophysics Program and the NASA Geology
Program.
The GRSFE airborne campaign included data acquisition by
several airborne instruments within a period of a few months,
including the Airborne Visible and Infrared Imaging
Spectrometer (AVIRIS; collected September 28, 29 and October 4,
1989), Thermal Infrared Multispectral Scanner (TIMS; collected
July 17 and September 27 and 29, 1989), Advanced Solid-State
Array Spectroradiometer (ASAS; July 17, 1989), and Polarimetric
Synthetic Aperture Radar (AIRSAR; September 13 and 14, 1989).
The sites covered were Lunar Crater Volcanic Field in Nevada,
and a number of locations in the Mojave Desert of California.
Field measurements were done at the time of the flights and
were concentrated in the Lunar Lake area. They included
meteorological measurements using a Weather Station (WTHS) and
wind speed towers (AWND), measurements using the Portable
Apparatus for Rapid Acquisition of Bidirectional Observations
of the Land and Atmosphere (PARABOLA), a spectral hygrometer
(SHYG), and a Reagan radiometer (REAG). Visible/near-infrared
measurements were made using the Single Beam Visible/Infrared
Intelligent Spectroradiometer (SIRIS), and a Daedalus
Spectrafax AA440 field spectrometer (DAED). Thermal spectral
radiance measurements were made with the Portable Field
Emission Spectrometer (PFES). Surface temperatures were
measured using a Raynger Raytek II Plus Radiometer (RMTR) and
arrays of buried thermistors (THRM) and temperatures were made
with these same instruments in a study of the directional
character of emissivity from various surfaces.
To assist in the calibration of the radar data, corner
reflectors were deployed. Stereo photography (from a
helicopter, HSTP) was acquired, and topographic profiles were
constructed. Finally, GPS techniques were also used to extract
topographic profiles. Archive release version 1.0 of GRSFE
consists of a set of 9 CD-ROMs. Complete, detailed
descriptions of the experiment, the sites over which data were
acquired, data processing procedures, and data file formats are
included, in addition to data proper.
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MISSION_OBJECTIVES_SUMMARY |
Mission Objectives Summary
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GRSFE data will be used in a variety of investigations,
including tests of multispectral radiative transfer models for
scattering and emission from planetary surfaces in support of
the Earth Observing System (EOS), Mars Observer and Magellan
Missions. Studies will be pursued to establish the neotectonic
and paleoclimatic history of the arid southwestern United
States. GRSFE data will also be used to support Mars Rover
Sample Return (MRSR) simulation studies. Finally, this
collection of data will be a useful tool for teaching
geological remote sensing.
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