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The Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) is a 2-megapixel, color camera with resolution as high as 13.9 µm pixel−1 . MAHLI has operated successfully on the Martian surface for over 1150 Martian days (sols) aboard the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover, Curiosity. During that time MAHLI acquired images to support science and science-enabling activities, including rock and outcrop textural analysis; sand characterization to further the understanding of global sand properties and processes; support of other instrument observations; sample extraction site documentation; range-finding for arm and instrument placement; rover hardware and instrument monitoring and safety; terrain assessment; landscape geomorphology; and support of rover robotic arm commissioning. Operation of the instrument has demonstrated that imaging fully illuminated, dust-free targets yields the best results, with complementary information obtained from shadowed images. The light-emitting diodes (LEDs) allow satisfactory night imaging but do not improve daytime shadowed imaging. MAHLI’s combination of finescale, science-driven resolution, RGB color, the ability to focus over a large range of distances, and relatively large field of view (FOV), have maximized the return of science and science-enabling observations given the MSL mission architecture and constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pre-mission Apollo 15, 16, and 17 geologic maps have not been updated in approximately forty years, and the availability of recently acquired high-resolution images, multispectral data, and detailed topography and gravity data, when coupled with the Apollo field observations and decades of sample analyses, makes this a prime opportunity to do so. These areas were selected because they are more geologically diverse, the missions covered greater traverse distances, and there were additional science investigations associated with them. This investigation will produce 6 new USGS Special Investigation Maps at the regional (1:200,000) and landing site (1:24,000) scales to take advantage of the higher resolution of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Wide Angle Camera and Narrow Angle Camera base maps. Concurrent with the mapping efforts led by the project team, we collected measurements of craters ≥500 m on the 1:200,000 maps and ≥10 m on the 1:24,000 maps for all six map areas using the CraterTools extension, excluding secondaries and the areas containing them. To date, we have mapped ~640 and ~8250 craters for the Apollo 15 regional and landing site maps respectively, ~900 and ~6480 craters for the Apollo 16 maps, and ~830 and ~4110 for the Apollo 17 maps. Once the geologic units on each map are finalized, we can make more detailed age interpretations based on these crater catalogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our team is funded by NASA PDART to produce updated geologic maps of the Apollo 15-16-17 landing sites at regional (1:200,000) and landing site (1:24,000) map scales for publication in the USGS SIM series. Our new maps will incorporate findings and interpretations from nearly 50 years of studies of the original Apollo data, surface observations, and sample analyses, as well as recent remote sensing data. Task 1. Renovation of Pre-Mission Geologic Maps: We have renovated the regional (1:250,000) and landing site (1:50,000) maps for Apollo 15, 16, and 17 pre-mission geologic maps in ArcMap and are in the process of finalizing the GIS file submission to the USGS for archiving. Task 2. Updating the Geologic Map of Apollo 15-16-17 Landing Sites: Mapping of the updated geologic maps continues in year 2 with the focus on defining point features and structural/linear features. We have also included Kaguya Terrain Camera mosaics as supporting data for mapping regional features. Task 3. Determine crater derived ages for new units: Craters ≥500 m have been mapped on the regional (1:200,000) Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Wide Angle Camera basemaps and craters ≥10 m have been mapped on the Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) basemaps for each landing site (1:24,000). Once map units are defined, these counts will be used to interpret unit ages on each map. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]