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Stories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society. 

Perspective view of Gale Crater

Potential MSL Site: Gale Crater

I am sort of breaking my own protocol here by posting about Gale crater before I hear the presentations today, but since we will immediately go into discussion and decision making after it is presented this morning, I figured that it would be good to familiarize you with it now.

Curiosity, or Mars Science Laboratory

MSL Workshop Presentations!

For those of you playing along at home, I thought I should point out that most of the presentations so far are posted at the

Curiosity, or Mars Science Laboratory

MSL Workshop: Votes are Cast!

The discussion and arguments are over! We are just waiting for the last few ballots to be submitted, and then the project science group will start counting them.

One potential MSL landing site in Mawrth Vallis

Potential MSL Site: Mawrth Vallis

The Mawrth Vallis landing site is actually a set of four possible landing ellipses in an area with huge clay mineral signatures that is cut by a meandering outflow channel.

Potential MSL landing site in Miyamoto Crater

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 landing site in south Meridiani

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 landing site in Nili Fossae

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.

Curiosity, or Mars Science Laboratory

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.

Curiosity, or Mars Science Laboratory

MSL Workshop Eve

It's almost time! Tomorrow the third Mars Science Laboratory Landing Site Workshop begins!

Curiosity, or Mars Science Laboratory

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.

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