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MSL landing sites in ancient layered terrain: Becquerel Crater

MSL landing sites in ancient layered terrain: Becquerel Crater. John Bridges 1 and Matt Balme 2. 1 Planetary & Space Sciences Research Institute, Open University, UK 2 Dept. of Earth Sciences, Open University, UK and Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, Az. Bridges & Balme Becquerel.

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MSL landing sites in ancient layered terrain: Becquerel Crater

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  1. MSL landing sites in ancient layered terrain: Becquerel Crater John Bridges1 and Matt Balme2 1Planetary & Space Sciences Research Institute, Open University, UK 2Dept. of Earth Sciences, Open University, UK and Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, Az.

  2. Bridges & Balme Becquerel Assess Past Habitability through Rover Traverse over Interior Layered Deposits (ILD) • Traverse over ILD would allow sedimentary log over millions years of depositional history • Best way of achieving MSL aims? • Impact, lacustrine, fluvial hypotheses assessed with extensive outcrop 0.2 km M1201064 352.25oE, 21.35oN (east side of ILD)

  3. Aim: Land beside ILD and traverse to their margin and onto them ILD ILD MOLA shaded terrain map 20 km landing ellipses for consideration Bridges & Bridges & Balme Balme Becquerel Becquerel

  4. Bridges & Balme Becquerel Becquerel Crater • 167 km diameter crater in Arabia Terra 22oN, 352oE • Contains 900 km2 exposure of Noachian Interior Layered Deposits (ILD) • -2.6 to -3.8 km elevation • >300 TI units (dust conditions not prohibitive), rock abundance 4-12% • No substantial current ground-ice detected by Gamma-Ray spectrometer so satisfies planetary protection constraint ILD 20 km

  5. Becquerel Crater • 167 km diameter crater in Arabia o o Terra 22 N, 352 E 2 • Contains 900 km exposure of Noachian Interior Layered Deposits (ILD) • - 2.6 to - 3.8 km elevation • >300 TI units (dust conditions not prohibitive), rock abundance 4 - 12% • No substantial current ground - ice ILD detected by Gamma - Ray spectrometer so satisfies planetary protection constraint MOLA 128 ppd gridded data Bridges & Bridges & Balme Balme Becquerel Becquerel

  6. Bridges & Balme Becquerel Becquerel Crater • 167 km diameter crater in Arabia o o Terra 22 N, 352 E 2 • Contains 900 km exposure of Noachian Interior Layered Deposits (ILD) • - 2.6 to - 3.8 km elevation • >300 TI units (dust conditions not prohibitive), rock abundance 4 - 12% ILD ILD • No substantial ground - ice detected by Gamma - Ray spectrometer so satisfies planetary protection constraint 20 km THEMIS night

  7. 0.2 km M1201064 352.25oE, 21.35oN (east side of ILD) Bridges & Balme Becquerel Are These Deposits Accessible?

  8. Bridges & Balme Becquerel • Two proposed 20 km landing ellipses to east A and west B of ILD • 351.386E, 21.478N (centre A) • 352.522E, 21.320N (centre B) A B ILD THEMIS daylight 20 km

  9. Bridges & Balme Becquerel • Two proposed 20 km landing ellipses to east A and west B of ILD • 351.386E, 21.478N (centre A) • 352.522E, 21.320N (centre B) A B ILD MOC na mosaic 10 km

  10. Bridges & Balme Becquerel Roughness and Aeolian Deposits • Green is dark dunes/sheets • Around margins of ILD, dark sand • is in sheets rather than barchans ILD 10 km

  11. Bridges & Balme Becquerel Ellipse A Roughness 2.5 km • THEMIS vis. Yellow is rough area (~15% of ellipse)

  12. Bridges & Balme Becquerel Ellipse A ILD 0.2 km • THEMIS NIGHT IR: • surface temperature 180-200K • THEMIS V09899025 • Dark barchans

  13. Bridges & Balme Becquerel Ellipse A M0701459 E0502646 0.25 km • Typical terrain: relatively rough with aeolian deposits

  14. Bridges & Balme Becquerel Ellipse B 2 1 2.5 km • Yellow rough terrain 10% • THEMIS IR night • 175 (dark)-200K (light)

  15. 2 1 Bridges & Balme Becquerel Ellipse B Area 1 Area 2 2.5 km • Polygonal terrain – past ice terrain ? (but little or no current ice) • Less rough than ellipse A

  16. Bridges & Balme Becquerel Elevation MOLA shaded map • A and B ellipses -3.6 to -3.8 km, • ILD -3.1 to -3.7 km

  17. Slopes and ILD Access Bridges & Balme Becquerel • Most slopes in A and B <5o • Slopes between ellipses and • ILD 2 – 10o • Base cliffs and top surface of • ILD could be accessed by rover A B ILD

  18. Bridges & Balme Becquerel Summary: Becquerel can reveal past Martian Environment • 352.522E, 21.320N (centre B safer ellipse) • Slopes, terrain allow landing and access to margin and probably onto ILD • Satisfies planetary protection • Accessing ILD allows best analysis • of past martian habitability over millions of years Interior Layered Deposits e0200375 (21.6oN, 351.6oE). Width 1.5 km, 3m/px

  19. Bridges & Balme Becquerel Summary: Becquerel can reveal past Martian Environment • 352.522E, 21.320N (centre B safer ellipse) • Slopes, terrain allow landing and access to margin and probably onto ILD • Satisfies planetary protection • Accessing ILD allows best analysis • of past martian habitability over millions of years • Issues: some dark aeolian • deposits and some rough terrain • in margin of ellipse B Interior Layered Deposits e0200375 (21.6oN, 351.6oE). Width 1.5 km, 3m/px

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