Open AccessSurface properties of Mars' polar layered deposits and polar landing sites
Author(s) -
Vasavada Ashwin R.,
Williams JeanPierre,
Paige David A.,
Herkenhoff Ken E.,
Bridges Nathan T.,
Greeley Ronald,
Murray Bruce C.,
Bass Deborah S.,
McBride Karen S.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: planets
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/1999je001108
Subject(s) - geology , mars exploration program , orbiter , aeolian processes , polar , astrobiology , impact crater , planet , geomorphology , physics , astronomy , astrophysics , engineering , aerospace engineering
On December 3, 1999, the Mars Polar Lander and Mars Microprobes will land on the planet's south polar layered deposits near (76°S, 195°W) and conduct the first in situ studies of the planet's polar regions. The scientific goals of these missions address several poorly understood and globally significant issues, such as polar meteorology, the composition and volatile content of the layered deposits, the erosional state and mass balance of their surface, their possible relationship to climate cycles, and the nature of bright and dark aeolian material. Derived thermal inertias of the southern layered deposits are very low (50–100 J m −2 s −1/2 K −1 ), suggesting that the surface down to a depth of a few centimeters is generally fine grained or porous and free of an appreciable amount of rock or ice. The landing site region is smoother than typical cratered terrain on ∼1 km pixel −1 Viking Orbiter images but contains low‐relief texture on ∼5 to 100 m pixel −1 Mariner 9 and Mars Global Surveyor images. The surface of the southern deposits is older than that of the northern deposits and appears to be modified by aeolian erosion or ablation of ground ice.