NASA: James Cameron to develop 3D camera for Mars rover

[The Straight Story]

NASA: James Cameron to develop 3D camera for Mars rover
Avatar director helping to give NASA a 3D view of Martian surface


Computerworld - Movie director James Cameron, of Avatar and Titanic fame, is helping to build a 3-D camera for the next robotic rover that NASA will send to Mars.

NASA announced this month that Cameron is working with Malin Space Science Systems Inc. of San Diego to build an updated camera that, if completed in time, will be installed on the Mars Science Laboratory rover, which has been dubbed Curiosity. The rover's cameras will be the machine's "science-imaging workhorse," according to the space agency.

Curiosity is scheduled to be launched in 2011.

Earlier this month, Malin delivered two cameras to be installed on the rover's main mast. The cameras, which are set up for high-definition color video, are designed to take images of the Martian surface surrounding Curiosity, as well as of distant objects.

NASA, however, has provided Malin with funding to work with Cameron to build alternatives of these two cameras - both would be 3D and would have zoom lenses.

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9176160/NASA_James_Cameron_to_develop_3D_camera_for_Mars_rover

[Deep13]

1. Resulting photos are visually impressive, but lack any character development...

...and use derivative plots.