Recomputation and Updating of MOLA Geolocation

The Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) Precision Experiment Data Records (PEDR) serve as the geodetic reference of Mars. However, these MOLA footprints were geolocated using outdated auxiliary information that dates back to 2003. In this study, we recompute the MOLA PEDR footprint locations and inv...

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Main Authors: Haifeng Xiao, Alexander Stark, Hao Chen, Jürgen Oberst
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-05-01
Series:Remote Sensing
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/9/2201
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author Haifeng Xiao
Alexander Stark
Hao Chen
Jürgen Oberst
author_facet Haifeng Xiao
Alexander Stark
Hao Chen
Jürgen Oberst
author_sort Haifeng Xiao
collection DOAJ
description The Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) Precision Experiment Data Records (PEDR) serve as the geodetic reference of Mars. However, these MOLA footprints were geolocated using outdated auxiliary information that dates back to 2003. In this study, we recompute the MOLA PEDR footprint locations and investigate the impact of the updated spacecraft orbit model and Mars rotational model on MOLA’s geolocation. We observe quasi-exponential increases near the poles of up to 30 m in the recomputation residuals for the nadir profiles. Meanwhile, we demonstrate that limitations exist in the stored MOLA PEDR attitude records, which can shift the footprint up to hundreds of meters laterally and several meters radially. The usage of the Navigation and Ancillary Information Facility (NAIF)-archived attitude information instead can circumvent this issue and avoid the approximation errors due to discrete samplings of the attitude information used in geolocation by the PEDR dataset. These approximation errors can be up to 60 m laterally and 1 m radially amid controlled spacecraft maneuvers. Furthermore, the incorporation of the updated spacecraft orbit and Mars rotational model can shift the MOLA profiles up to 200 m laterally and 0.5 m radially, which are much larger in magnitude than the aforementioned dramatic increases near the poles. However, the shifted locations of the reprocessed profiles are significantly inconsistent with the PEDR profiles after the global cross-over analysis.
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spelling doaj.art-f1e49b3720aa40ec8d1362a729223e892023-11-23T09:12:19ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922022-05-01149220110.3390/rs14092201Recomputation and Updating of MOLA GeolocationHaifeng Xiao0Alexander Stark1Hao Chen2Jürgen Oberst3Institute of Geodesy and Geoinformation Science, Technische Universität Berlin, 10553 Berlin, GermanyGerman Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Planetary Research, 12489 Berlin, GermanyInstitute of Geodesy and Geoinformation Science, Technische Universität Berlin, 10553 Berlin, GermanyInstitute of Geodesy and Geoinformation Science, Technische Universität Berlin, 10553 Berlin, GermanyThe Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) Precision Experiment Data Records (PEDR) serve as the geodetic reference of Mars. However, these MOLA footprints were geolocated using outdated auxiliary information that dates back to 2003. In this study, we recompute the MOLA PEDR footprint locations and investigate the impact of the updated spacecraft orbit model and Mars rotational model on MOLA’s geolocation. We observe quasi-exponential increases near the poles of up to 30 m in the recomputation residuals for the nadir profiles. Meanwhile, we demonstrate that limitations exist in the stored MOLA PEDR attitude records, which can shift the footprint up to hundreds of meters laterally and several meters radially. The usage of the Navigation and Ancillary Information Facility (NAIF)-archived attitude information instead can circumvent this issue and avoid the approximation errors due to discrete samplings of the attitude information used in geolocation by the PEDR dataset. These approximation errors can be up to 60 m laterally and 1 m radially amid controlled spacecraft maneuvers. Furthermore, the incorporation of the updated spacecraft orbit and Mars rotational model can shift the MOLA profiles up to 200 m laterally and 0.5 m radially, which are much larger in magnitude than the aforementioned dramatic increases near the poles. However, the shifted locations of the reprocessed profiles are significantly inconsistent with the PEDR profiles after the global cross-over analysis.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/9/2201MOLAMarsgeolocationreprocessingself-registrationsaturation
spellingShingle Haifeng Xiao
Alexander Stark
Hao Chen
Jürgen Oberst
Recomputation and Updating of MOLA Geolocation
Remote Sensing
MOLA
Mars
geolocation
reprocessing
self-registration
saturation
title Recomputation and Updating of MOLA Geolocation
title_full Recomputation and Updating of MOLA Geolocation
title_fullStr Recomputation and Updating of MOLA Geolocation
title_full_unstemmed Recomputation and Updating of MOLA Geolocation
title_short Recomputation and Updating of MOLA Geolocation
title_sort recomputation and updating of mola geolocation
topic MOLA
Mars
geolocation
reprocessing
self-registration
saturation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/14/9/2201
work_keys_str_mv AT haifengxiao recomputationandupdatingofmolageolocation
AT alexanderstark recomputationandupdatingofmolageolocation
AT haochen recomputationandupdatingofmolageolocation
AT jurgenoberst recomputationandupdatingofmolageolocation