Space Sci Rev (2012) 170:641–737 DOI 10.1007/s11214-012-9916-y Selection of the Mars Science Laboratory Landing Site M. Golombek · J. Grant · D. Kipp · A. Vasavada · R. Kirk · R. Fergason · P. Bellutta · F. Calef · K. Larsen · Y. Katayama · A. Huertas · R. Beyer · A. Chen · T. Parker · B. Pollard · S. Lee · Y. Sun · R. Hoover · H. Sladek · J. Grotzinger · R. Welch · E. Noe Dobrea · J. Michalski · M. Watkins Received: 20 October 2011 / Accepted: 25 June 2012 / Published online: 21 July 2012 © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2012 Abstract The selection of Gale crater as the Mars Science Laboratory landing site took over five years, involved broad participation of the science community via five open workshops, R. Hoover now at Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701. M. Golombek () · D. Kipp · A. Vasavada · P. Bellutta · F. Calef · Y. Katayama · A. Huertas · A. Chen · T. Parker · B. Pollard · S. Lee · Y. Sun · R. Hoover · H. Sladek · R. Welch · E. Noe Dobrea · J. Michalski · M. Watkins Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA e-mail:
[email protected] J. Grant National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560, USA R. Kirk · R. Fergason U.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA K. Larsen Laboratory Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA Y. Katayama Lunar and Planetary Exploration Program Group, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Tokyo, Japan R. Beyer NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA Y. Sun · J. Grotzinger California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA R. Hoover University of Colorado, Boulder, USA H.