MSL landing sites Options

[tuvas]

As there are some pictures being released from HiRISE of proposed MSL landing sites, I thought I'd give you what little I know about the process. As of the HiRISE team meeting a month ago or so, there were about 40 proposed sites to land MSL. These sites were prioritized, and are being photographed roughly in priority order. Each site requires a picture from each of the 3 main cameras (CTX, CRISM, and HiRISE) in their highest resolution in order to proceed. If it's determined that there can be a safe landing site, as well as interesting science targets, then they will advance to the next level, where I presume they will "wallpaper" the areas with HiRISE and CRISM (CTX, well, they get the whole landing ellipse in one shot, I think...). They likely will also photograph science areas near the proposed sites to look for interesting targets. After that, well, your guess is as good as mine. Note that none of this is official, but it's what I would expect. Also note that the landing site selection is still opened to new suggestions, the ones they have so far are not a complete list. The priority also doesn't mean anything right now other than they are the targets which will be photographed first, these priorities are still subject to change. But, well, I thought I'd send this out there for you all sink your teeth on, it really is quite interesting!

[HughFromAlice]

Just a thought.....

In the light of the MSL mission statement 'Mars Science Laboratory is a rover that will assess whether Mars ever was, or is still today, an environment able to support microbial life. In other words, its mission is to determine the planet's "habitability." ' at http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/overview/ and 'a growing awareness of potential, widespread mud volcanism in the lowlands of Mars' which has the potential to bring to the surface a lot of interesting chemicals - even that associated with microbial life forms if such life is/were to have existed http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2009/pdf/1034.pdf and 'the features could be mud volcanoes but may also be sedimentary remnants from retreating glaciers. However, either way, the presence of fine grained clays in the deposits would be ideal locations to look for organic molecules, "like amonia and proteins." ' http://arizonageology.blogspot.com/2009/03...es-on-mars.html

And that a lot more could be discovered about this during the next few years before the final landing site decision will be taken...............

That a 'is still today' mud volcano type site could make an outside run in the final straight to challenge the late Amazonian phylosillicate sites. Worth watching!

[centsworth_II]

... a 'is still today' mud volcano type site could make an outside run in the final straight to challenge the late Amazonian phylosillicate sites. Worth watching!

It's a high stakes gamble: On one hand, investigating material ejected from below the surface may reveal evidence of current life. On the other hand, the amorphous dried mud ejecta may reveal no signs of current life and we would have lost the opportunity to investigate the rich history that would be revealed in layered phylosillicate sites. A history of an ancient, more Earth-like Mars.

[HughFromAlice]

It's a high stakes gamble:

You're right! It is and I respect your opinion! That's why it's an outside run and we'll need to know a lot more to tip the risk/reward balance in its favour before giving up on those millions and millions of years of layered history. But I think of the risk levels in the Apollo program - particularly Apollo 11 - and then also, what an utterly amazing prize if evidence of life were to be discovered!

If only HiRise could priority search and find a mud volcano or two near some significant phylosillicate deposits................unlikely, but...........