Mars Science Lab Mars Science Lab Landing Sites Landing Sites

Horton NewsomHorton NewsomInstitute of Meteoritics and Dept. of Earth and Institute of Meteoritics and Dept. of Earth and

Planetary Sciences, Univ. of New MexicoPlanetary Sciences, Univ. of New MexicoChemCam co-investigatorChemCam co-investigator

Implications of multiple goals for Implications of multiple goals for the MSL missionthe MSL mission

Success of Spirit at sampling very different types Success of Spirit at sampling very different types of terrains raises expectations for similar results of terrains raises expectations for similar results with MSLwith MSL

Multiple targets enhances chance for mission Multiple targets enhances chance for mission success in terms of finding target habitatssuccess in terms of finding target habitats

Possible targets include:Possible targets include: Evaporites and sediments (preferably low energy)Evaporites and sediments (preferably low energy) Hydrothermal deposits (preferably deep seated or old) Hydrothermal deposits (preferably deep seated or old)

– Impact crater rims and central uplifts– Impact crater rims and central uplifts Alteration phases produced under neutral conditions Alteration phases produced under neutral conditions

(clays) – Ancient highlands(clays) – Ancient highlands

Change in Change in climate history climate history

on Mars?on Mars?

Change over time Change over time at surface from at surface from clays to sulfates to clays to sulfates to dry ferric oxidesdry ferric oxides

Change penetrates Change penetrates only slowly into only slowly into crust so exhumed crust so exhumed deep materials may deep materials may be desirablebe desirable

Subsurface – igneous water/rock

Sulfur from surface

Bibring et al., 2006, Science

Newsom, 2005, Nature News & Views

Possible site – Far west MeridianiPossible site – Far west Meridiani(I started looking east but ended up west!)(I started looking east but ended up west!)

Examined in Examined in detail for the detail for the MER site MER site selection and selection and evaluation activity evaluation activity – Newsom et al., – Newsom et al., 2003, JGR (MER 2003, JGR (MER issue)issue)

Multi-ringed Multi-ringed basin 1600 basin 1600

km diameter km diameter centered on centered on Meridiani?Meridiani?

Elevation - Elevation - ddetrended etrended

MOLA MOLA topographytopography

e.g.Newsom e.g.Newsom et al., 2003, et al., 2003,

JGRJGR

Landing Landing SiteSite

Far-West MeridianiFar-West Meridiani Landing ellipse in Landing ellipse in

20 km diam. 20 km diam. cratercrater

Region of interest Region of interest up to 5 km outside up to 5 km outside of the ellipseof the ellipse

HematiteHematite Layered terrainLayered terrain Low elevation Low elevation

below -1500 mbelow -1500 m

Region of interest

Far West MeridianiFar West Meridiani Layered terrainLayered terrain Highlands and Highlands and

crater rimscrater rims Crater floor deposits Crater floor deposits

and hematite and hematite (multiple facies (multiple facies visible at 100m visible at 100m resolution)resolution)

Examined for the Examined for the MER site selection– MER site selection– Newsom et al., Newsom et al., 2001, JGR2001, JGR

Highlands-crater rim

Highlands-crater rim

Layered terrain

Crater floor deposits

Sediments and hematite

Example traverse

Major fluvial and lacustrine featuresMajor fluvial and lacustrine features

Landing Landing SiteSite

Opportunity

Newsom et al., 2003, JGR (MER issue)Newsom et al., 2003, JGR (MER issue)

To Iani chaos

Elevation change Elevation change across slope: 250 m across slope: 250 m (-2000 m up to -1750 (-2000 m up to -1750 m top of layered unit)m top of layered unit)

-2050

-2000

-1950

-1900

-1850

-1800

-1750

-1700

-1650

-1600 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61

Elev

atio

n m

North

South

Layered terrainLayered terrain

Layered Layered terrain cont.terrain cont.

Located at edge Located at edge of landing site of landing site ellipse on SE ellipse on SE corner, also corner, also

maybe on SW maybe on SW corner, extent in corner, extent in ellipse unknownellipse unknown

Hematite in Far West MeridianiHematite in Far West Meridiani Hematite – Post Hematite – Post

depositional depositional fluids or detrital fluids or detrital processesprocesses

TES data TES data Christensen et Christensen et al. al.

ConclusionsConclusions Far West Meridiani site has potential for multiple Far West Meridiani site has potential for multiple

environmental habitats and organic preservationenvironmental habitats and organic preservation Presence of layered materials (sulfates?, sediments?) is Presence of layered materials (sulfates?, sediments?) is

the highlight of this sitethe highlight of this site Crater rims and highlands exposures have potential for Crater rims and highlands exposures have potential for

different aqueous environments with phyllosilicate different aqueous environments with phyllosilicate alterationalteration

New data are needed in the actual landing ellipse to New data are needed in the actual landing ellipse to confirm presence of different types of material in the confirm presence of different types of material in the ellipse and nearby, especially clays?, hydrothermal ellipse and nearby, especially clays?, hydrothermal activity? and different types of sedimentsactivity? and different types of sediments

This site is a good example of having varied and This site is a good example of having varied and interesting materials both inside and around the landing interesting materials both inside and around the landing ellipseellipse

Time and limited access to Omega products restricted Time and limited access to Omega products restricted opportunities to search for better sites at this stageopportunities to search for better sites at this stage