Some aspects of modern photogrammetric image processing of Soviet Lunokhod panoramas and their implemenation for new studies of lunar surface

Abstract

Recently the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has obtained images, which cover landing sites from previous missions to the Moon in unprecedented high resolution (up to 0.3 m/pixel). These new data allow us to carry out a precision mapping of the Lunokhod landing sites, combining orbital high resolution images with surface panoramas taken by the rovers during their missions. Unfortunately, a lot of supplementary information about the missions, the rovers and their instrumentation is lost, which includes timing information and exterior orientation parameters. So, we have developed new methods and techniques of Lunokhod panorama processing by means of modern photogrammetric software supported by LRO data.