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Mark SmithField Engineer
Mark Smith, a member of the Satellite Geodesy and Geodynamics Systems Group, has years of experience working with field systems related to crustal deformation studies. Mark has been involved in the measurement of crustal deformation using space techniques since its inception. He participated in Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) experiments which were used to measure plate tectonics by tracking distant quasars in space. They initially used very large antennas 60 meters in diameter. He has seen the equipment used to measure plate tectonics shrink as he next used mobile VLBI systems transported on vans and now works with very lightweight portable GPS systems. He is currently involved in several GPS field activities and has been involved with SCIGN since its inception. Mark has located, selected, and installed SCIGN stations, has worked on the design of antenna mounts and station configurations, and tested radio communication systems. His work with SCIGN has taken him to mountain tops and to the offshore islands. He also recognized the value of partnering with schools for expanding the network which has provided both educational and scientific benefits. This led to the development of the SCEC/SCIGN educational module. In addition to working on SCIGN, Mark was actively involved in the implementation of the global GPS network. He has visited such far flung places as the Galapagos Islands, Diego Garcia, and Columbia, to name a few. Mark also supports other scientific efforts involving GPS. He implemented continuous GPS stations in Costa Rica and participated in other field work there. He has also spent several years working on the San Andreas fault in Parkfield, California conducting night observations with GPS. Aside from SCIGN, Mark's other current area of focus is on work in Antarctica. Since 1996 he has worked on the design of autonomous continuous GPS stations. The stations are powered by solar power in the summer, but must be powered with windmills in the winter because it is completely dark for 6 months during the year there. In the station design, Mark must factor in, not only, power and communication issues, but size issues as well. The equipment is moved to the Antarctic mountain tops by helicopter, where Mark then installs the stations. Outside of his work for JPL, Mark has been involved with a number of exciting projects, including some appearances on the Star Trek television series. Mark is pictured below on the Paramount set in full costume for the show.
Andrea Donnellan || Maggi Glasscoe || Michael Heflin || Ken Hurst || David Jefferson || Greg Lyzenga || Anne Mikolajcik || Jay Parker || Mark Smith || Michael Watkins || Frank Webb || Jim Zumberge
Last modified on 8/13/98 by Maggi Glasscoe (scignedu@jpl.nasa.gov) |
