Ancient
clay and volcanic rock dominate a proposed landing site for the Mars Science
Laboratory west of the Nili Fossae trough, as seen by the Mars Reconnaissance
Orbiter.
The
green and bluish hues indicate iron- and magnesium-rich minerals, while reddish
materials suggest magnesium- and iron-rich clays possibly formed by water that
changed the volcanic rock. The orbiter used a combination of three instruments,
including its HiRISE camera, the Context Camera, and the Compact Reconnaissance
Imaging Spectrometer for Mars, to put the terrain features in stark relief.
Scientists
on the Mars Science Laboratory team have narrowed down landing site candidates
to six, based on trying to find a diverse
environment that includes signs of water and minerals which might preserve
organic material. MSL is slated for launch in fall 2009 to arrive at Mars in
fall 2010, when the current Phoenix Mars Lander will have already shut down.
— NASA/JPL/University of
Arizona
and SPACE.com Staff
Credit:
NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
