Where will you

land?
Each team will use a map of Mars as well as
its geological and climate information and
choose a landing site and a location for
establishing a settlement.

Geology and Topography

One-third of the planets surface (Northern
Hemisphere) is 3-6 km lower than the other
two-thirds of the planets surface (Southern
Hemisphere).
It has the highest volcano in our solar
system, Olympus Mons.
Some of the deepest craters are located on
the planet. The planets deepest crater is
Hellas Planita.

Colour Topography of Mars

Hubble Captions
http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/solar_system
/mars/npp/all
/

Another Link
http://www.google.com/mars/
Map of Mars

Mars Atmosphere
Compone
nt

% on
Mars

% on
Earth

Carbon
Dioxide

95.32

Nitrogen

2.70

78.0

Argon

1.60

1.0

Oxygen

0.13

21.0

Carbon
Monoxide

0.08

Water
Vapor

Trace
amounts

Trace
amounts

Climate Quick Facts

There are seasonal changes of the carbon dioxide
ice caps.
There is movement of large amounts of dust by
the atmosphere.
There are exchanges of water vapor between the
surface and the atmosphere.
There are dust storms that generally occur in the
southern hemisphere in the spring and summer.
Those storms can grow to encompass the whole
planet.

Weather Links
http://quest.nasa.gov/aero/planetary/mars.html
http://marsweather.com/data
Measured by the Curiosity
http://
www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mars/multimedia/pi
a16450.html
Image of a dust storm in the Southern Hemisphere

Team Challenge
Choose a landing site from the sites listed below.
Gather information about the four locations prior
to finalising the teams decision.
Eberswalde Crater
Gale Crater
Holden Crater
Mawrth Vallis

Using the maps of Mars as well as the geological

and climate information, choose a landing site
and a location for establishing your settlement.
Once the site has been chosen, provide the
teams rationale for choosing the site.