James Cameron Sending 3-D Cameras to Mars with Next NASA Rover

New zoom mast cameras could allow the Curiosity rover to take cinematic video sequences in 3-D

By Jeremy Hsu Posted 04.30.2010 at 2:43 pm 8 Comments

Mars Mastcam The Mast Camera 34 mm fixed focal length flight camera head with a Swiss Army Knife (88.9 mm; 3.5 inches long) for scale. Malin Space Science Systems

James Cameron's love of science and high-tech cameras has previously shone through with his undersea documentaries -- not to mention Titanic or even Avatar. Now the film director is playing "public engagement co-investigator" on NASA's upcoming SUV-sized rover mission, which will carry full-color digital cameras and zoom lenses -- but it's a race to complete the lenses in time for the mission's 2011 launch.

Cameron approached NASA administrator Charles Bolden about including the 3-D camera in January, according to the AP. NASA had originally cut the 3-D camera and zoom lens options back in 2007, for budgetary reasons.

But Cameron's argument that a high-res 3-D camera would boost public interest swayed Bolden to his side. The U.S. space agency recently funded completion of the 3-D and zoom-capable cameras by Malin Space Science Systems, Inc, the company which developed the Mastcams.

Restoring the zoom is not a science issue, although there will be some science benefits," said Michael Malin, principal investigator for the Mastcam. "The fixed focal length Mastcams we just delivered will do almost all of the science we originally proposed. But they cannot provide a wide field of view with comparable eye stereo."

That has led to a scramble to build and test the zoom lens cameras before the MSL rover commences final testing in early 2011. The two Mastcams under development would have 15:1 zoom lenses which can image from telephoto (100mm focal length) down to wide-angle (6.5mm focal length).

The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover is slated to carry four science cameras mounted on a remote sensing mast, where they can pan or tilt to take images all around the rover out to the horizon. All of the cameras currently have fixed focal lengths.

By contrast, the zoom lenses would allow for "cinematic video sequences in 3-D on the surface of Mars," Malin noted. Given our Hubblegasm review of Hubble 3D, it's safe to say that we're crossing our fingers for Cameron to get his proper filmmaking tools in time for blastoff to Mars.

[Malin Space Science Systems]

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8 Comments

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SJak

04/30/10 at 3:38 pm

I read this on Gizmodo. That is wondeful James, but are you giving them anything in funding to help get it done in time or just talking to NASA? Because I'm sure you can't spare a penny, what with your tight financial income. Oh wait...

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Igot1forya

04/30/10 at 4:30 pm

It should not be too hard... he already sent 3D camera's to Pandora.

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cjeam

04/30/10 at 4:37 pm

Erm...Surely it was justifiably cut for budgetary reasons:
Extra cameras mean extra weight, which means extra cost. It also means there is a greater likelihood of a delayed launch.
I don't think that relatively the fact the Mars rover we launch has 3D cameras will increase public interest much. The fact that it's a ROBOT on MARS is usually sufficient.
And it would be staggeringly cheaper just to convert the images to 3D.
Why is NASA listening to cinema producers anyway?

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kormiko

04/30/10 at 7:02 pm

@cjeam ... 3D conversions are nowhere near the same quality as shooting in 3D. Comments like that gives us "Clash of the Titans" in crappy 3D and the movie was crappy to begin with.

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futurewiz14526

04/30/10 at 8:40 pm

Next Academy Award winner.......Avatar 2, Martians Attack!

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hellkeeper6

05/01/10 at 5:33 am

with the money cammeron made on avatar he could probably fund the entire operation himself

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zayıflatıcı

05/02/10 at 7:57 pm

met konulara yorumsuzum www.devabitkiselurun.com

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Sheetz

06/09/10 at 6:58 pm

I really hop they complete it in time for the mission.It would be extremely cool with 3D images from Mars. And if Cameron's argument, that a high-res 3-D camera would boost public interest,would turn out to be true. Then that would be great to.TV

Live long and prosper friends.

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