Innovative stacking technique results in highly detailed images of Mars

EU-funded scientists have used a revolutionary image stacking and matching technique to reveal unprecedented details of the surface of Mars.

The research team, based at University College London (UCL), and part of the FP7 PROVIDE project have revealed exciting photos of Martian surface, including ancient lakebeds uncovered by NASA’s Curiosity rover, NASA’s MER-A rover tracks and Home Plate’s rocks. They also released images of the ‘lost’ British landing spacecraft Beagle-2 that landed on Mars in December 2004 but failed to make contact with Earth.

The technique, called Super-Resolution Restoration (SRR), used to take the images was developed in large part through the PROVIDE consortium. Although the project officially ended in December 2015, the technique has only recently been used to focus on specific objects on Mars. The technique could be used to search and locate other artefacts from past failed landings, as well as identify safe landing locations for future rover missions. It will also allow scientists to explore vastly more terrain than is possible with a single rover.

Read more: cordis.europa.eu