Updated: 4 March 2000
During the Aerobraking and Science Phasing Orbits portion of the mission in 1997 and 1998, the 5-digit numerical indentifier was based upon orbit number (defined by periapsis point) and numerical sequence of image commanded for that orbit. For example, an image identified as AB1-10905 was taken during the Aerobraking-1 Phase on orbit 109 and it was the 5th image taken by MOC during that orbit.
During the Calibration, Fixed High Gain, and Mapping Phases of the mission, the 5-digit identifier indicates the numerical order in which the image was commanded during that phase. For example, an image identified as M03-00006 was the 6th image commanded during mission phase M03.
The images within a mission phase are numbered in time-sequential order based upon the commanded start time for acquisition of each picture. The numbering scheme is independent of which camera is used (narrow angle, red wide angle, or blue wide angle). Gaps in the numbering sequence (i.e., a skip from image 01002 to 01009) indicate images that were commanded but never received back on Earth. Loss of images can result any number of problems, including those that occur onboard the spacecraft as well as at receiving stations on Earth.
The mission phases are as follows:
PHASE DATES COMMENTS AB1 15 SEP 97 to 18 FEB 98 Aerobraking 1 SP1 28 MAR 98 to 28 APR 98 Science Phasing Orbits 1 SP2 02 JUN 98 to 12 SEP 98 Science Phasing Orbits 2 CAL 28 FEB 99 to 08 MAR 99 MOC Calibration Phase FHA 09 MAR 99 to 27 MAR 99 Fixed-High Gain Antenna Phase; image numbers continue from end of CAL such that first FHA image is #435 M00 03 APR 99 to 05 MAY 99 First Mapping Phase M01 05 MAY 99 to 04 JUN 99 Second Mapping Phase M02 04 JUN 99 to 30 JUN 99 Third Mapping Phase M03 01 JUL 99 to 10 AUG 99 Fourth Mapping Phase M04 10 AUG 99 to 31 AUG 99 Fifth Mapping Phase M07 01 SEP 99 to 01 OCT 99 Sixth Mapping Phase; there is no M05 or M06 phase M08 01 OCT 99 to 01 NOV 99 Seventh Mapping Phase M09 01 NOV 99 to 30 NOV 99 Eighth Mapping Phase M10 01 DEC 99 to 01 JAN 00 Ninth Mapping Phase M11 01 JAN 00 to 31 JAN 00 Tenth Mapping Phase M12 01 FEB 00 to 01 MAR 00 Eleventh Mapping Phase M13 01 MAR 00 to end MAR 00 12th Mapping Phase
Malin Space Science Systems and the California Institute of Technology built the MOC using spare hardware from the Mars Observer mission. MSSS operates the camera from its facilities in San Diego, CA. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Mars Surveyor Operations Project operates the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft with its industrial partner, Lockheed Martin Astronautics, from facilities in Pasadena, CA and Denver, CO.
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