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Navcam, short for navigational camera, is a type of
First NavCam mosaic
/ref> These cameras, like those on the
20110406 PIA13809 D2011 0404 D036 cropped-full.jpg, ''Curiosity'' rover's mast with two navcams
MER Pancam.JPG,
Navcam, short for navigational camera, is a type of camera
A camera is an Optics, optical instrument that can capture an image. Most cameras can capture 2D images, with some more advanced models being able to capture 3D images. At a basic level, most cameras consist of sealed boxes (the camera body), ...
found on certain robotic rover
Rover may refer to:
People
* Constance Rover (1910–2005), English historian
* Jolanda de Rover (born 1963), Dutch swimmer
* Rover Thomas (c. 1920–1998), Indigenous Australian artist
Places
* Rover, Arkansas, US
* Rover, Missouri, US
...
s or spacecraft
A spacecraft is a vehicle or machine designed to fly in outer space. A type of artificial satellite, spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, Earth observation, meteorology, navigation, space colonization, p ...
used for navigation without interfering with scientific instruments. Navcams typically take wide angle photographs that are used to plan the next moves of the vehicle or object tracking.
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 degreeangle of view
The angle of view is the decisive variable for the visual perception of the size or projection of the size of an object.
Angle of view and perception of size
The perceived size of an object depends on the size of the image projected onto the ...
and use visible light
Light or visible light is electromagnetic radiation that can be perceived by the human eye. Visible light is usually defined as having wavelengths in the range of 400–700 nanometres (nm), corresponding to frequencies of 750–420 tera ...
to capture stereoscopic 3-D imagery./ref> These cameras, like those on the
Mars Pathfinder
''Mars Pathfinder'' (''MESUR Pathfinder'') is an American robotic spacecraft that landed a base station with a roving probe on Mars in 1997. It consisted of a lander, renamed the Carl Sagan Memorial Station, and a lightweight, wheeled robot ...
missions support use of the ICER
ICER is a wavelet-based image compression file format used by the NASA Mars rovers. ICER has both lossy and lossless compression modes.
The Mars Exploration Rovers ''Spirit'' and ''Opportunity'' both used ICER. Onboard image compression is u ...
image compression format.
European Space Agency
, owners =
, headquarters = Paris, Île-de-France, France
, coordinates =
, spaceport = Guiana Space Centre
, seal = File:ESA emblem seal.png
, seal_size = 130px
, image = Views in the Main Control Room (1205 ...
''Rosetta'' spacecraft used a single camera with 5 degree field of view and 12 bit
The bit is the most basic unit of information in computing and digital communications. The name is a portmanteau of binary digit. The bit represents a logical state with one of two possible values. These values are most commonly represente ...
1024x1024px resolution allowing for visual tracking on each of spacecraft approaches to the asteroids and finally the comet
A comet is an icy, small Solar System body that, when passing close to the Sun, warms and begins to release gases, a process that is called outgassing. This produces a visible atmosphere or coma, and sometimes also a tail. These phenomena ar ...
.
Gallery
Mars Exploration Rover
NASA's Mars Exploration Rover (MER) mission was a robotic space mission involving two Mars rovers, ''Spirit (rover), Spirit'' and ''Opportunity (rover), Opportunity'', exploring the planet Mars. It began in 2003 with the launch of the two rover ...
's mast with two Pancam
Each Pancam is one of two electronic stereo cameras on Mars Exploration Rovers ''Spirit'' and ''Opportunity''. It has a filter wheel assembly that enables it to view different wavelengths of light and the pair of Pancams are mounted beside two ...
s (on its sides) and two navcams
Opportunity Rover Approaches Marquette Island.jpg, Example of photo made by ''Opportunity''s navcam
NLA 397673010EDR F0010008AUT 04096M.JPG, First photo made by ''Curiosity''s navcam
See also
*Astrionics
Astrionics is the science and technology of the development and application of electronic systems, subsystems, and components used in spacecraft. The electronic systems on-board a spacecraft are embedded systems and include attitude determinati ...
* Hazard avoidance camera (Hazcam)
* Panoramic camera (Pancam)
* Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared camera OSIRIS
*List of NASA cameras on spacecraft
NASA has operated several cameras on spacecraft over the course of its history.
Apollo Program
*Apollo TV camera
*Hasselblad "Electric Camera" (modified 500 EL) with 70 mm film
* Maurer Data Acquisition Camera (DAC) with 16 mm film
*Nikon w ...
*Mars rover
A Mars rover is a motor vehicle designed to travel on the surface of Mars. Rovers have several advantages over stationary landers: they examine more territory, they can be directed to interesting features, they can place themselves in sunny pos ...
References
Space imagers Spacecraft instruments Mars imagers Mars Pathfinder Mars Exploration Rover mission Mars Science Laboratory instruments Navigational equipment {{ESA-stub