Mars Science Lab 2009 Workshop, Space.com progress report 31 May 2006 Options

[mars loon]

The first MSL landing site workshop is now in progress.

So here's a new topic based on this interesting report from space.com today: 31 May 2006

http://www.space.com/news/060531_msl_destination.html

here are the first few paragraphs including a comment that there will be a first cut on prioritizing sites into high, medium and low priority groups.


Landing Sites Debated for Next Mars Rover
By Leonard David
Senior Space Writer
posted: 31 May 2006
09:33 am ET



PASADENA, California – When NASA’s next wheeled robot—the Mars Science Laboratory—rockets skyward in 2009, the mega-rover will carry the largest, most sophisticated array of science gear ever shot to the martian surface.

Far more robust and powerful than those smaller robotic look-alikes now laboring on Mars—Spirit and Opportunity—the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) is intended to turn a new page in planetary exploration.

But here’s the issue at hand: Where to land the hunk of high-tech machinery; deciding the ideal spot that’s safe but also maximizes the rover’s chances to help figure out if Mars ever was—or is today—an abode for life.

Leading Mars investigators and space engineers are gathered here this week at the first landing site workshop for the 2009 Mars Science Laboratory.

First cut

The purpose of the workshop is to hear about all of the proposed MSL landing sites … and to make a first cut at prioritizing them, said John Grant, a geologist at the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

Grant also co-chairs the MSL landing site steering committee that organized this week’s meeting.

"All of the sites will probably remain under consideration after this first workshop, but they will be prioritized into high, medium, and low groups," Grant said.

[tglotch]

If people haven't seen it yet, the good folks at ASU have been posting THEMIS Vis and IR mosaics of the proposed landing sites for MSL. Go to http://themis.asu.edu/ and click on "MSL Landing Site Support"