Planetary Terrestrial Surfaces and Exploring Mars

Jaclyn and Carlton Allen Astromaterials Research and

Exploration Science at Johnson Space Center

Earth

Volcanoes

Mars

Lava Layering – making and mapping a volcano

Impact Craters

Mars Earth

Mars Dunes Earth Dunes

Mars and Earth both formed 4.5 billion years ago. Did

Mars once have a warm, wet environment for life?

Mars and Earth both formed 4.5 billion years ago. Did

Mars once have a warm, wet environment for life?

Examples of Meanders

Earth Mars

Mesas in Utah

Plateau Region

ESA-MEX

Field of View 60 km wide

Kasei Valles

Landslide

Mars Exploration Rover Landing

Sites Mars Exploration Rover Landing

Sites Meridiani Planum Gusev Crater

Water-formed hematite? Ancient lake sediments?

Mars Exploration Rover

GUSEVCRATER100 km

COLOR-CODED TOPOGRAPHIC MAP –RED IS HIGH, BLUE IS LOW

Spirit landing ellipse in Gusev Crater – 100 X 20 km

Gusev Crater – still looking for the lakebed sediments

Windblown soil and dust

Volcanic rocks

Weathered Basalt at Spirit SiteSurface coated with alteration products

Spirit’s Objectives

100 km

MERIDIANI PLANUM

AREAS OF HEMATITE CONCENTRTIONS – RED IS HIGH, BLUE IS LOW

Opportunity landing ellipse in Meridiani Planum – 100 X 20 km

Eagle Crater – Meridiani Planum

Hematite-rich soil

Sulfur-rich rocks

Blueberries are enrichedin hematite (no goethite)

Hematite Concretions Navaho Sandstone, Utah

|<--4 cm-->|

Best Earth analog found so far:Hematite concretions from sandstone – Escalante, UT

Deposition in slow moving Water