Improving the Exterior Orientation of Mars Express Hrsc Imagery

This paper focusses on the estimation of exterior orientation parameters of the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) orbiting planet Mars during the European Mars Express mission since January 2004. One of the challenges for the photogrammetric processing of HRSC images is the low number of Ground Control Points (GCPs) on Mars which can be identified and measured in the images in the usual way. Therefore, Mars Observer Laser Altimeter (MOLA)-data is employed as control information in the photogrammetric bundle adjustment of HRSC images. A Mars Express specific concept for the photogrammetric point determination and the mathematical model of bundle adjustment with the principle of three-line camera is described. Results are reported for the bundle adjustment with and without MOLA-data as control information.