Mars Science Laboratory

Attached is the address to the first MSL landing site selection workshop held in 06. Some of the finer details of the presentations may be dated but for the most part, the topics are current. The 08 workshop was devoted to discussion of seven remaining sites with respect to scientific questions and criteria relevant to the MSL mission, and from the workshop four sites were selected. NASA recently announced these sites. Browsing through some of the powerpoint presentations of the 06 workshop is very interesting and thought provoking...the bottom line, should MSL land at an alluvial fan or a site containing clay?

http://webgis.wr.usgs.gov/msl/program_for_the_first_msl_workshop.htm

the new post was my doing

Az St. After browsing thru the choices, I concluded that we can recognize alluvial fans with imagery but can't prove the clay that way so would go for the clay

Ben, Wha?
I can see it now...going for a suspected clay rich site, then getting there only to have one of those, wait a minute moments, only to discover the suspect clay is actually a new hydrous sulfate, or whatever, that forms on Mars only. That would be a kick in the pants. Actually a real concern though. I think an alluvial fan should be a target but unfortunately, the landings sites are not very lander friendly. After landing. some distance would have to be navigated to reach the area of interest. Worth the effort I will predict.