Kano... I was linked to this thread only recently so I realize its a few years old now...
but in case you are still around I have a question...
The photo clip in the OP... it's from a Lockheed Martin study not a NASA report... yet I saw no mention of this nor a link to the entire
document...
Color Calibration of Spirit and Opportunity Rover Images
Ron L. Levin*, Lockheed Martin IS&S, Building 5, 1300 S. Litchfield Road,
Goodyear, AZ 85338-1599
ABSTRACT
The controversy about color Mars lander image calibration, begun in 1976 during the Viking mission, continues with the 2004 Spirit and Opportunity
missions. Officially released color images at web site “Photojournal.JPL.NASA.Gov” continue to show wide variation. Two sets of filters are used
by NASA to produce color images from Spirit. One conventional set of red, green and blue filters has been used for images of the calibration chart
alone and small pieces of the soil. Another set of infra-red, green and blue filters is used for larger panoramic images. While most objects in the
Martian scene are not affected by this change, the appearance of the color calibration chart changes drastically. An extreme example of this can be
found in the comparison of the blue color panel using the two different sets of filters. When the blue panel is seen in the panorama images, it
appears to be bright red. Small blue wire ties on the rover also appear to be bright red in the panoramas. NASA claims that the blue color panel is
unusually reflective in the near infra-red. This makes inspection of the color balance more difficult and many problems exist in published “true
color” images. This paper will round up this and other issues involving Spirit color image calibration.
mars.spherix.com...
Now the most interesting thing in that document to me was the FINAl image in the paper... the one showing LM's opinion of the results of the color
filters..
image source: http://www.thelivingmoon.com/43ancients/04images/Mars4/Color/Lockheed_001.png
Personally I go with this image for a more realistic color...
image source: http://www.thelivingmoon.com/43ancients/04images/Mars4/Color/Scoria_001.jpg
Based on the comparison of the Vesicular Basalt in the photo... that looks pretty close to what I see here in Nevada..
image source: http://www.thelivingmoon.com/43ancients/04images/Mars4/Color/Basalt_Vesicular.jpg
Hmmm and for this elevated status and a

from NASA
[edit on 27-4-2008 by zorgon]