Image of Richard Leis, Jr.

Richard Leis, Jr.

Operations Specialist, Downlink/Validation Lead

HiRISE Operations Center

University of Arizona

Tucson, AZ

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The Mission

The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on board the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) is exploring the planet Mars from orbit in the highest resolution detail ever. We are currently in the "Extended Science Phase" of our mission after a successful "Primary Science Phase" from November 2006 through November 2008. During that time we took thousands of multi-gigapixel-sized images. Although this resulted in many terabytes of data, the surface area of Mars - especially when captured at such high resolution - is enormous and we imaged less than one percent of the surface. As long as our camera and MRO continue to function properly, we will continue to build up our high resolution view of Mars over many years. Check out http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/ and our blog at http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/HiBlog/ for the latest images and information. We are also on Twitter and Facebook!

My Job

I am an Operations Specialist and Downlink/Validation Lead for the HiRISE Operations Center (HiROC) located at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, USA. I focus on downlink activities, such as downloading and processing images, image validation, testing operations software, and writing Perl scripts. I also participate in educational and public outreach (EPO) events like HiROC tours and speaking engagements. While I am here at UA, I am slowly but surely working my way toward a B.S. in Geosciences.

EPO Participation

Upcoming Events

2009

Past Events

2005
  • August 2005: Mars Mania I - HiRISE presentation for visitors to the Charles P. Sonett Space Sciences Building
2006
Image of Richard Leis, Jr.
  • March 10, 2006 (Friday), 1:00 - 4:00 pm: Mars Orbital Insertion (MOI) - helped describe events as they unfolded live for a public audience at UA's Kuiper Space Sciences Building, Room 308 | Article
  • April 08, 2006 (Saturday): Mars Mania II - HiRISE presentation for visitors to the Charles P. Sonett Space Sciences Building. Answered visitor questions in our lobby.
  • May 26, 2006 (Friday): Yuma Fourth Graders - My sister taught fourth grade in Yuma, Arizona during the 2005/2006 school year. She invited me to speak to her students and three other fourth grade classes on the last day of their week-long study of the planets. I showed each class a presentation about HiRISE and Mars, conducted a "What is a Pixel?" hands-on activity, and answered their (many) questions.
  • October 04, 2006 (Wednesday): h+ Tucson Meeting - Latest HiRISE Images and "Augmenting Humans Instead of Terraforming Mars"
  • October 21, 2006 (Saturday): Phoenix Mars Mission Open House
  • November 02, 2006 (Thursday): HiROC Tour - Prescott Tour
  • December 10, 2006 (Sunday): Congregation Anshei Israel - HiRISE presentation
2007
Image of framed HiRISE observation of Delta in Eberswalde.
2008
  • February 08, 2007 (Friday): HiROC Tour - UA Elder Hostel Program
  • April 11, 2008 (Friday): HiROC Tour - UA Elder Hostel Program
  • May 25, 2008 (Sunday): University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory Event: Phoenix Mars Lander Landing Celebration
  • December 05, 2008 (Friday): HiROC Tour - PCC Space/Stars/Mars Study Tour
  • December 09, 2008 (Tuesday): HiROC Tour - Planetary Image Librarians
2009
  • March 13, 2009 (Friday): HiROC Tour - PCC Space/Stars/Mars Study Tour

Other Activities

Previous Activities