By way of introduction, since this is the first post I have submitted, I spent approximately 20 years at JPL’s Image Processing Laboratory, where I managed teams of engineers responsible for processing planetary images from Mariners 9 and 10, Voyager, Magellan, Galileo, Cassini and Mars Pathfinder, while publishing two editions of Digital Image Processing—A Systems Approach along the way. I then transferred to Caltech where I served as Manager of the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center, and managed development of the data system now being used to process science data from NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope before retiring. I recently published a book for a general audience entitled My Life in Space—The Story Behind NASA’s Amazing Pictures of the Planets that describes the work that went on behind the scenes to create the image products that were released from the planetary missions that I was privileged to work on. The book is available through Amazon, and more information is available on www.mylifeinspace.com.

FYI, here are excerpts from Emily Lakdawalla’s review in The Planetary Report: ":

"An enthralling account of the hard work, struggles, conflicts, and triumphs that happen behind the scenes of every space mission"

“It contains the war stories of a retired soldier whose campaigns have taken him to destinations across the solar system”

I'll add that there was probably something on every page that made me think -- "ooh--the guys at UMSF would love to know this!"

Here's a direct link to the Amazon page for the book.

Welcome, Bill! Hope to see you participating in the image processing discussions, since you were around for the development of so many of these space cameras & the data they produce!

The book sounds great. Can't wait to order a copy.

Just in time for Squidmas!

And "Digital Image Processing—A Systems Approach? " I love every word in that title!!!!!

Welcome to UMSF