Nasa’s jet propulsion laboratory in Pasadena is using
Hewlett-Packard's large-format printers to view high-resolution,
colour photos with vivid detail using HP colour printing
technology.
“Recognised for its combination of innovation, speed and relatively
low downtime, the HP Designjet 5500 large-format printer is helping
to enhance space exploration and to aid in developing topography
information needed to map uncharted areas of Earth,” says Rob Wait,
US commercial marketing manager, imaging and printing group at
HP.
“Each printer includes a roll of paper 5ft and 100ft long. So
far, Nasa has used six of the paper rolls.”
Nasa's powerful robotic rovers, known as Spirit and Opportunity,
are each equipped with nine high-resolution stereo cameras to
capture 360-degree colour views on two different regions of Mars’
surface.
Displayed on a velcro wall at the JPL site, the mosaic-like
layout of the complete images includes 176 million individual
picture elements, or pixels. One 39ft-long panorama provides a
360-degree, three-dimensional view of Spirit’s landing site from
the Gusev Crater on Mars.
Only three years ago it could take a full day to paste multiple
images together to build a final layout. Today it takes less than
an hour using HP's large-format printers and other technology to
share one complete image with project engineers and, eventually,
the general public.
In less than a month, the project has gone through 300 sq ft of
photo paper and 30 pints of ink.
HP technology is also an important tool, among others, in
helping NASA to determine where the two rovers have landed in this
three-month-long project. "It is a great day for photo imaging when
you can closely support a scientific mission of this value and
relevance to human kind,” Wait said.
HP’s commitment to space has been gaining momentum over the past
30 years. Last week, the White House appointed HP chairman and
chief executive officer Carly Fiorina to the US Space
Commission.
The commission is charged with advising the White House on the
sort of science agenda that should be considered for the moon.
Fiorina, one of eight appointees to the commission, will contribute
a broad range of high-tech expertise.
Written by
Computing SA staff