Selecting a safe, scientifically rich landing site
Landing site selection balances scientific value with safety and engineering constraints like terrain, elevation, and landing accuracy. The process involves the science community, mission engineers, and orbital remote sensing data.
Key selection criteria:
- Scientific potential: Evidence of past water, interesting minerals, or diverse geology.
- Terrain safety: Flat areas free of large rocks, steep slopes, or dunes.
- Elevation: Lower elevations provide more atmosphere for safer entry, descent, and landing.
- Mobility considerations: Passing distance to targets of interest within rover range.
Decision process
- Orbital mapping identifies candidate sites.
- Science teams evaluate trade-offs and prioritize goals.
- Engineering teams assess landing risks and constraints.
This careful, data-driven process ensures rovers touch down in locations that maximize discovery while keeping missions technically feasible.