NASA Reference Publication 1238 1990 Mars Landing Site Catalog Ronald Greeley, Editor Arizona State University Tempe, Arizona National Aeronautics and Space Administration Office of Management Scientific and Technical Information Division PREFACE This catalog was compiled from material provided by the planetary community for areas on Mars that are of potential interest for future exploration. The catalog has been edited for consistency insofar as practical. However, the proposed scientific objectives and characteristics for the sites have not been reviewed. It should be noted that this is a "working" catalog that is being revised, updated, and expanded continually. Acknowledgments: My thanks to the following persons who helped in the preparation of this document: Katherine Price, Peggy Thomas, Susan Selkirk, Daniel Ball, Sherry-lynn Smith, Maureen Geringer, Loretta McKibben, Ricky Reynolds, Jim Rice, and Kevin Gorman. R. Greeley 5 December 1989 iii BRT..CEDLNG PAGE [tl_i P._LL._.INI[N' l|0N_kl BLANK NOT FILMED MARS SITE INDEX 31 WESTERN HEMISPHERE O EASTERN HEMISPHERE C) ;:o -o Table of Contents °°, Preface ....................................................................................................................................... 111 iii Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................... Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 1 1 Catalog Access .................................................................................................................... Rover/Sample Return Missions ................................................................................................. 7 7 General Statement ............................................................................................................... Science Issues ...................................................................................................................... 7 7 Science Objectives .............................................................................................................. 8 Rover Issues ........................................................................................................................ Sampling Strategy and Validation ....................................................................................... 9 Lander Issues ..................................................................................................................... 12 14 Penetrator Missions ................................................................................................................. Science Criteria ................................................................................................................. 14 14 Sampling Objectives ......................................................................................................... Engineering Constraints .................................................................................................... 14 Meteorological Considerations for Penetrator Sites .......................................................... 14 Balloon Missions ..................................................................................................................... 16 16 Initial Site .......................................................................................................................... 16 Drift Mission ..................................................................................................................... 16 Science .............................................................................................................................. 17 Meteorological Stations ........................................................................................................... Landing Site Descriptions 001 Eridania NW ............................................................................................................. 18 002 Parana Valles ............................................................................................................ 20 003 Eridania .................................................................................................................... 22 004 Eridania SE ............................................................................................................... 24 005 Iapygia ...................................................................................................................... 26 006 Noachis ..................................................................................................................... 28 007 Terra Cimmeria ........................................................................................................ 30 008 Mare Tyrrhenum ...................................................................................................... 32 009 Sinus Sabaeus ........................................................................................................... 34 010 Terra Tyrrhena .......................................................................................................... 36 011 Phaethontis SW ........................................................................................................ 38 012 Samara Valles ........................................................................................................... 40 SITES 013 - 017 HAVE BEEN DELETED ..................................................................... 42 018 Alba Patera ............................................................................................................... 43 46 019 Northern Elysium ..................................................................................................... 49 020 Argyre Ph'mitia ......................................................................................................... 51 021 Maja Valles .............................................................................................................. 54 022 Candor Mensa .......................................................................................................... 023 Memnonia ................................................................................................................. 58 024 Mouth of MajaValles .............................................................................................. 61 025 Maja Valles Canyon Flood Plain ............................................................................. 64 026 Upper Maja ............................................................................................................... 66 027 UpperMangalaValles..............................................................................................68 028 OlympusMons Southeast.........................................................................................71 029 WesternDaedaliaPlanum........................................................................................81 030 North PolarCap........................................................................................................87 031 North Pole ................................................................................................................88 032 HadriacaPatera........................................................................................................89 033 ChasmaBoreale........................................................................................................91 034 PlanumAustrale.......................................................................................................92 035 MemnoniaSulci .......................................................................................................94 036 OlympusRupes(Southeast).....................................................................................96 037 KaseiValles..............................................................................................................98 038 MangalaVallesWest .............................................................................................100 039 MangalaVallesEast...............................................................................................102 040 Elysium Mons ........................................................................................................104 041 Apollinaris Patera...................................................................................................106 042 Nilosyrtis Mensae...................................................................................................108 043 CandorChasmaI ....................................................................................................110 044 Tharsis-Olympus....................................................................................................112 045 ChasmaBoreale......................................................................................................114 046 LabeatisNorth ........................................................................................................116 047 LabeatisSouth........................................................................................................118 048 Solis........................................................................................................................120 049 Hadriaca.................................................................................................................122 050