Analysis of extreme locations on Mars (ALEXA)

The next phase of my research project has started today. This project is a sub-project of the main research program within the main project GNSS FATIMA.

This phase will include for example a detailed investigation of the canyon Valles Marineris to analyze the satellite signal coverage in the extreme terrain locations on Mars.

The proposed name for this sub-project is ALEXA (from AnaLysis of EXtreme locAtions on Mars).

The animation below will show you the simulated flight over Valles Marineris. You can see the terrain differences when compared to the areas all around.

These extreme locations are places that are very deep or high when compared to the immediate surroundings.

The image above: Detailed view of Valles Mariners (top) and its location near the Tharsis region – check the three volcanoes on the left side of the bottom image. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/J.Kozár

I will keep you updated via my blog, so you can watch my work live online. The results will be published of course as a research paper. But I am now at the beginning of this phase and the project will last some time.

The input data for this phase will be the data from the MRO mission (NASA JPL). So fingers crossed that everything will go smoothly!

Related resources:

• The list of my research projects.
• Introduction of GNSS FATIMA.

Jozef

Related articles on this blog:

• The documentary movie’s behind the scenes (Mars GNSS FATIMA)
• Analysis of the extreme locations on Mars (ALEXA)
• Satellite navigation system for Mars (project: GNSS FATIMA)
• Cartographic requirements for Mars GNSS FATIMA (Abstract)
• Implementation proposal of Mars GNSS
• Navigation and positioning errors caused by natural conditions on Mars (research of GNSS for Mars)
• Natural influences on Mars navigation systems
• Computer simulations in space and planetary exploration systems development

RESEARCH PAPERS for the project (GNSS for Mars): Continue here

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