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Small BodiesStories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.
3rd MSL Landing Site Workshop: Engineering and Geobiology
We covered a LOT today, so I have decided to split things up. This post will cover the talks in the morning and then I will give each site its own post.
Potential MSL Site: Miyamoto Crater
Miyamoto crater is an ancient crater about 150 km southwest of where the Opportunity rover is right now. The potential landing site has some interesting mineralogy, particularly evidence for phyllosilicate (clay) minerals.
Potential MSL Site: South Meridiani
The south Meridiani landing site is a newcomer to the bunch. It was added earlier this summer as a replacement for the north Meridiani site.
Potential MSL Site: Nili Fossae Trough
This morning we hit the ground running and heard about a very interesting site: the Nili Fossae Trough. This site would land in a big canyon formed when a block of crust dropped down.
MSL Workshop Eve
It's almost time! Tomorrow the third Mars Science Laboratory Landing Site Workshop begins!
MSL One Year from Launch
One year from today, the Mars Science Laboratory will launch. It seems fitting that the workshop during which we choose the final three possible landing sites begins today.
Last Year's MSL Landing Site Workshop: Day 3
I'm in the airport on my way to California to participate in the third Mars Science Laboratory Landing Site Workshop, so I thought I would take this chance to post my blog entry from day three of last year's workshop.
Last Year's MSL Landing Site Workshop: Day 2
Today was a marathon of landing site presentations, ranging all over the martian globe, and targeting just about every potentially water-related feature on Mars.
Last Year's MSL Landing Site Workshop: Day 1
Coming up next week is the 3rd Mars Science Laboratory Landing Site Workshop, where the Mars science community will come together to narrow down the possible landing site choices for MSL.
Mars Budget Cuts
Exploring another planet is an expensive business. We all know this, but sometimes it hits home harder than others. Today was one of those times.
Mapping Meridiani: Part 1
The mantra of Mars exploration is
No descent images or sounds from Phoenix
A couple of days ago Malin Space Science Systems (MSSS) issued a news notice that explains some of the horse-trading that went on behind the scenes to rescue MARDI, the descent imaging camera that they are building for the Mars Science Laboratory rover.
MSL: Landing site downselections
After three days of presentations, voting, and extended discussions, the
MSL landing site selection meeting: Day 2 site-by-site presentations
Unlike the Mars Exploration Rover mission, which featured two golf-cart-sized landers, this time we have only one giant, Volkswagen beetle-size. So at the end of this process we have to pick our favorite place on Mars, not our favorite two places.
MSL sites, comet outbursts, and other stuff
The latest on MSL landing sites, a look at comet outbursts, and links to other stuff.
Mars Science Laboratory is going to be HUGE
Yesterday I deposited the baby with her grandmother and went to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for a press junket to the opening of their new Mars Yard.