Mars Pathfinder landing site. Viking Orbiter image showing the area of the planned landing site for the Mars Pathfinder spacecraft. The landing site s

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Mars Pathfinder landing site. Viking Orbiter image showing the area of the planned landing site for the Mars Pathfinder spacecraft. The landing site selected is in Ares Vallis, an ancient flood feature near Chryse Planitia in the northern hemisphere of the planet. The ellipse here describes the 100km by 200km target landing zone. Formed by flows of water in the distant past, many types of rock types should be present in the area. Mars Pathfinder is due for launch in December 1996, and will arrive in July 1997. In addition to a science package, the craft will carry an autonomous rover for exploration around the landing site.

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Size: 4859px × 3602px
Photo credit: © NASA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: ares, astronomy, chryse, cosmology, landing, mars, martian, mesur-pathfinder, pathfinder, planet, planetary, planitia, science, site, surface, vallis