PowerPoint Presentation
The Martian: Locations and LandscapesShannon MurphyU-M
Astronomy, JPL Solar System Ambassador
Background:
http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/df-20457_rv2.jpg
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Earth and Mars ComparedMars is about half the diameter of
EarthBigger mountains, deeper trenchesVERY thin atmosphereLiquid
water?Plate tectonics?
Earth and Mars
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/details.cgi?aid=2878 3
TopographyMars has bigger volcanoes, deeper trenches
Earth Mars topo animation
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/details.cgi?aid=2877 5
What do you notice?
http://mola.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/mercat.jpg
MOLA was an instrument on MGS, which orbited Mars from 1998 -
20076
Exploring MarsThree big things you want when sending people to
Mars:A safe place to landSomething interesting to exploreResources
to make things easier
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Signs of past water
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v479/n7371/abs/nature10582.html?message-global=removeOpen
symbols indicate the prescence of minerals, but no clays were
detected. 8
Landers & Rovers
Valles Marineris to Schiaparelli
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Mark Whatneys path
Ares 3 landing site
Ancient Water on Mars
Ares 3 landing site
http://mars.nasa.gov/mro/multimedia/images/?ImageID=7499
MRO has been in orbit about 10 years, but has only mapped about
4% of the surface.HiRISE is the highest resolution camera in orbit
around Mars14
Ares 3 Landing Site: The Martian
Revisiteduahirise.org/ESP_040776_2115We previously released an
image near the Ares 3 landing site from The Martian by Andy Weir.
Andy then sent us the exact coordinates, which we targeted, and
this is it. The closeup shows some wind-blown deposits inside
eroded craters. We cant see the Ares 3 habitat because it arrives
sometime in the future, so this is the before image. The dark areas
appear bluish in HiRISE color but would appear grey to humans on
the surface, or maybe a bit reddish when the air is dusty.
http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/ESP_040776_2115
One of two images that make up a stereo gram. On this scale, the
smallest feature youd be able to see is about the size of a coffee
table. After Weir sent the coordinates, program managers agreed to
capture an image of the area with MRO.15
Dunes
http://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/sandy-selfie-sent-from-nasa-mars-rover16
Gullies
Discovered just weeks after The Martian was published! Possible
large reservoirs of salt water just under the surface
http://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/jpl/pia19917/dark-recurring-streaks-on-walls-of-garni-crater17
Global Groundwater Resources
Pathfinder
Teardrop shaped islands and jumbled rocks indicate this was an
outflow channel or floodplain
Mawrth Vallis
An outflow channel similar to the area Pathfinder landed
in.Considered for Curiosity
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McLaughlin CraterMRO detected clay and carbonates standing
water
McLaughlin CraterNo channels into the crater groundwater!
Arabia TerraVery heavily cratered some of the oldest terrain on
Mars!
http://marsoweb.nas.nasa.gov/landingsites/sites/Arabia_Terra/
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Explore for yourself! http://marstrek.jpl.nasa.gov/
