HCMM Digital Source: Recovered Satellite Imagery Scenes

Approximately 2400 scenes of recovered digital data from the Heat Capacity Mapping Mission, stored as TIFF files. The original scenes are 715 km wide and vary in length from 715 to 3,000 km, with a resolution of 100 dpi. This dataset was created by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and represents the only remaining set of HCMM data, as the original magnetic tape source is no longer readable.

Use Cases

• Analyze historical land surface properties based on the black and white film imagery.
• Study surface radiative properties and topography based on the satellite scene dimensions.
• Conduct research on land use and land cover changes based on the geospatial imagery.
• Investigate geomorphic landforms and erosion processes based on the landscape imagery.

Strengths

• Approximately 2400 scenes provide a substantial collection for analysis.
• Scenes have a defined spatial resolution of 100 dpi and a consistent width of 715 km.
• Data is preserved in a standard TIFF image format, facilitating access.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• The data is derived from film, which may limit digital analysis quality compared to original digital sources.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Data was transmitted from the HCMM satellite to seven ground stations and stored on magnetic tape, later recovered to film.

Time Range

null

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 20:35:08.126078; freshness should be verified.

Geography

null