The Significance of Rock Abundances at the Viking Lander Sites: Implications for Mars Pathfinder and Surveyor Landers

Details The Significance of Rock Abundances at the Viking Lander Sites: Implications for Mars Pathfinder and Surveyor Landers The Significance of Rock Abundances at the Viking Lander Sites: Implications for Mars Pathfinder and Surveyor Landers

Mar 1996

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1996lpi....27..273c&link_type=abstract

Lunar and Planetary Science, volume 27, page 273

Mathematics

Logic

Lander, Mars, Pathfinder, Rocks, Viking

Scientific paper

Several missions are planned to Mars in the coming years that will place a variety of instrumented landers on the surface [Mars Pathfinder, Mars Surveyor, Mars 96]. In preparation for selection of landing sites, engineering considerations, and science goals, it is desirable to estimate the physical characteristics of the surfaces. Rock abundances on the surface are an important consideration for both science issues and site hazard estimation. Almost any potential hazard may be accommodated in engineering designs, but at the cost of size, weight, and complexity of the lander. The ability to do science at the lander sites is governed not only by the ability to function in the environment, but also by the ability to interpret the significance of the observed surface. There is currently very little knowledge, and no viable models of the geologic significance of rock populations, although recent efforts to understand the Mars Pathfinder site have spurred renewed efforts to address this issue. In this study I review the characteristics of the rock abundances as observed at the Viking Lander sites, discuss some models for the physical distribution and origin of rock populations, and address the possible significance for proposed landers and rovers.

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