Lesson plan
Test target
A test target (for spacecraft) or calibration target is a common feature on interplanetary landing craft such as the Viking Lander and Mars Exploration Rovers. The target is usually a visible marker or plate on the exterior of the vehicle within sight of the lander's imaging system (usually a CCD camera). The target possesses samples of primary colors and a grey scale. The camera uses this much like a photographer would use a chip chart on Earth; the color samples allow the camera to compensate for white balance and contrast. The target provides a visual reference as well, so that the initial orientation of the camera can be fixed. On the Mars Exploration Rovers, the target was designed in the shape of a sundial mounted on the rover deck with colored blocks in the corners for color calibration.
Article summary
A test target (for spacecraft) or calibration target is a common feature on interplanetary landing craft such as the Viking Lander and Mars Exploration Rovers. The target is usually a visible marker or plate on the exterior of the vehicle within sight of the lander's imaging system (usually a CCD camera). The target possesses samples of primary colors and a grey scale. The camera uses this much like a photographer would use a chip chart on Earth; the color samples allow the camera to compensate for white balance and contrast. The target provides a visual reference as well, so that the initial orientation of the camera can be fixed. On the Mars Exploration Rovers, the target was designed in the shape of a sundial mounted on the rover deck with colored blocks in the corners for color calibration.
Key claims
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.