Data Set Overview : This data set contains data to help understand the fine-scale morphology, reflectance, and texture of rock surfaces and soil as well as the accumulation of dust on the capture and filter magnets. Several types of imaging data products can be created onboard the rover. Image data volume can be reduced by summing rows or columns, subframing (or windowing), or downsampling. Because the goal of MI observations is to resolve small features on Mars, row or column summing is not likely to be performed on MI images. However, subframing (selecting a part of the image for downlink) and/or downsampling (calculating a mean or median of pixels in specified blocks) can be used to reduce MI data volume for downlink. Subframe products are defined by starting row and column and by number of rows and columns. Downsampling can be used to create a thumbnail version of an image for rapid downlink and assessment on the ground. If the thumbnail indicates that the image is of scientific interest, the full-resolution image can be later returned to Earth. A histogram of the image data can also be generated and returned to Earth as a separate product. Reference pixels are returned as a separate product if requested. Processing : This data set uses the Committee on Data Management and Computation (CODMAC) data level numbering system. The MER Camera Payload EDRs are considered Level 2 or Edited Data (equivalent to NASA Level 0). The EDRs are reconstructed from Level 1 or Raw Data, which are the telemetry packets within the project specific Standard Formatted Data Unit (SFDU) record. They are assembled into complete images, but are not radiometrically or geometrically corrected. Microscopic Imager EDR data products were generated by the Multi-mission Image Processing Lab at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory using the telemetry processing software mertelemproc. The EDRs produced are raw uncalibrated data reconstructed from telemetry packet SFDUs and formatted according to the Camera EDR/RDR Software Interface Specification. Meta-data acquired from the telemetry data headers and a meta-data database were used to populate the PDS label. There will not be multiple versions of a MER Camera Payload EDR. Missing packets will be identified and reported for retransmission to the ground as partial datasets. Prior to retransmission, the missing EDR data will be filled with zeros. The EDR data will be reprocessed only after all partial datasets are retransmitted and received on the ground. In these cases, the original EDR version will be overwritten. The EDR data product will be placed into FEI for distribution. Data : The data packaged in the camera data files will be decoded, decompressed camera image data in single frame form as an Experiment Data Record (EDR). The Full Frame form of a standard image data file has the maximum dimensions of 1024 lines by 1024 samples. 1) Full Frame EDR Full Frame EDRs are stored as 16-bit signed integers. If 12-to-8 bit scaling is performed, then pixels are stored in 16-bit format and only the last 8 bits of teh 16-bit integer are used. 2) Thumbnail EDR Thumbnail EDRs are stored as 16-bit signed integers or 8-bit unsigned integers. If 12-to-8 bit scaling is performed, then pixels are stored in 16-bit format and only the last 8 bits of the 16-bit integer are used. The Thumbnail EDR is a sized down version of the original acquired image (i.e., camera returned pixel data), and size of the binary EDR image data is variable. However, the original acquired image is not always downlinked. The main purpose of a Thumbnail EDR is to provide an image summary using a very low data volume compared to the original image. 3) Sub-frame EDR Sub-frame EDRs are a subset of rows and columns of the 1024 x 1024 full frame image. Sub-frame EDRs are stored as 16-bit signed integers. If 12-to-8 bit scaling is performed, then pixels are stored in 16-bit format and only the last 8 bits of the 16-bit integer are used. Software : MER Camera Payload downlink processing software is focused on rapid reduction, calibration, and visualization of images in order to make discoveries, to accurately and expeditiously characterize the geologic environment around the rover, and to provide timely input for operational decisions concerning rover navigation and Instrument Deployment Device (IDD) target selection. Key software tools have been developed at Cornell University, at JPL by the MIPL, SSV, and APSS groups, at NASA Ames, and at the USGS/Flagstaff. These tools can also be used to process MI images (see below), as well as Navcam and Hazcam images, which have substantial scientific potential in addition to their operational importance PDS-labeled images and tables can be viewed with the program NASAView, developed by the PDS and available for a variety of computer platforms from the PDS web site http://pdsproto.jpl.nasa.gov/Distribution/license.html. There is no charge for NASAView. Media/Format : The data set will initally be delivered and kept online. Upon Mission completion, the Microscopic Imager EDRs will be delivered to PDS on DVD as part of the complete MER EDR data set.

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