Nasa has recently narrowed down the possible landing sites for the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), set to launch in 2009. The data used to make these choices came primarily from an advanced spectrometer on the Mars Reconaissance Orbiter. The spectrometer is able to measure the reflected radiation from the planet ranging from the ultraviolet region into the near-IR, recording on 544 individual channels, giving scientists detailed high-resolution images of the planets surface and giving insight into the chemical and geologic makeup of the surface. In its high resolution mode, the spectrometer can image a six mile wide area with a spatial resolution of 20 meters per pixel. Additionally, the spectrometer can switch to a low-resolution mode, allowing scientists to quicken the aquisition of data and get closer to having a complete map of the martian surface.
The article can be found here: http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/19628/
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