Laboratory for Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics 　 Directed by  Dr. Hongjie Xie , Assistant Professor

Remote Sensing for Mars Research

    Long believed to have been cold, dead and dry for aeons, there is now striking new proof that not only was Mars a relatively warm and wet place in geologically recent times, but that even today there are vast reserves of water frozen beneath the planet's surface. As well as casting fascinating new insights into Mars's past, this discovery is also forcing a complete rethink about the mechanisms of global planetary change.

• What does the drastic turn of events on Mars mean for Earth's climate system?

• Could life have thrived on Mars very recently, and might it survive even today?

• Will humans be able to live off the natural resources that Martian hydrogeology now seems to offer?

• How could Mars be transformed into the New World -  and should this even be contemplated?

(Source: Feffrey S. Kargel's book Mars - A Warmer, Wetter Planet, 2004, pp.557, Springer-Verlag press)

I. History of Mars exploration

(for details: http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/mars/space_missions.html)

II. Projects

     1. Mars remote sensing for determining Mars's evolution of the surface and interior,

                - UTSA Faculty Research Award 2005, $5,000 (PI: Hongjie Xie)

         In order to seek funding opportunities from NASA's Mars Mission, this project is designed for preliminary studies on determining the evolution of the surface and interior of Mars. The approach will focus on (1) utilizing Mars Global Surveys (MOLA and MOC imagery) data to study geomorphology or topographic modification and evolution of the highland/lowland dichotomy boundary of Mars; (2) applying remotely sensed gravity and/or magnetic data (from Mars Global Surveys Mission) to study the Martian crust and mantle structures; and (3) applying TES (Mars Global Surveyor), THEMIS (Mars Odyssey), or OMEGA (Mars Express) images to map the minerals and rocks of Mars’ surface.

2. Mena-Fernandez, S. and H. Xie, 2005. Understanding the Olympus Mons and Valles Marineris using THEMIS imagery. 36th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, March 14-18, Houston, Texas. Paper #1056.

　

3. Analyzing the temperature and mineral composition of the Olympus Mons and Valles Marineris of Mars (Selene Fernandez and Ray Perez)

　

4. Biosignature, water, minerals and rocks of Mars using OMEGA, HRSC, THRMIS, MOC, and MOLA (Kunle Owojori)