Navcam, short for navigational camera, is a type of camera found on certain robotic rovers or spacecraft used for navigation without interfering with scientific instruments. [1] [2] [3] Navcams typically take wide angle photographs that are used to plan the next moves of the vehicle [4] or object tracking. [1]
Overview
The Mars Curiosity rover has two pairs of black and white navigation cameras mounted on the mast to support ground navigation. The cameras have a 45 degree angle of view and use visible light to capture stereoscopic 3-D imagery. [5] These cameras, like those on the Mars Pathfinder missions support use of the ICER image compression format[ citation needed].
European Space Agency Rosetta spacecraft used a single camera with 5 degree field of view and 12 bit 1024x1024px resolution allowing for visual tracking on each of spacecraft approaches to the asteroids and finally the comet. [1]
Gallery
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Curiosity rover's mast with two navcams -
Mars Exploration Rover's mast with two Pancams (on its sides) and two navcams -
Example of photo made by Opportunity's navcam -
First photo made by Curiosity's navcam
See also
- Astrionics
- Hazard avoidance camera (Hazcam)
- Panoramic camera (Pancam)
- Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared camera OSIRIS
- List of NASA cameras on spacecraft
- Mars rover
References
- ^ a b c "Comet 67P/C-G in Rosetta's navigation camera". ESA. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
- ^ "The rover's "eyes" and other "senses"". Mars Exploration Rover Mission. NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Archived from the original on 7 March 2004. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
- ^ "How A Team Of Scientists Dropped A One-Ton Science Lab On Mars Completely Unscathed". The Business Insider. 17 December 2012.
- ^ "More Driving And Imaging At 'Matijevic Hill'". Space Daily. November 26, 2012.
- ^ First NavCam mosaic
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