• Scientists Shortlist Three Landing Sites for Mars 2020

    From baalke@1:2320/100 to sci.space.news on Thu Feb 16 22:17:36 2017
    From Newsgroup: sci.space.news


    http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=6744

    Scientists Shortlist Three Landing Sites for Mars 2020
    Jet Propulsion Laboratory
    February 11, 2017

    Participants in a landing site workshop for NASA's upcoming Mars 2020
    mission have recommended three locations on the Red Planet for further evaluation. The three potential landing sites for NASA's next Mars rover include Northeast Syrtis (a very ancient portion of Mars' surface), Jezero crater, (once home to an ancient Martian lake), and Columbia Hills (potentially

    home to an ancient hot spring, explored by NASA's Spirit rover).

    More information on the landing sites can be found at:

    http://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/mission/timeline/prelaunch/landing-site-selection/

    Mars 2020 is targeted for launch in July 2020 aboard an Atlas V 541 rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The rover will conduct geological assessments of its landing site on Mars, determine the habitability of the environment, search for signs of ancient Martian life, and assess natural resources and hazards for future human explorers. It will also prepare a collection of samples for possible return
    to Earth by a future mission.

    NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory will build and manage operations of the
    Mars 2020 rover for the NASA Science Mission Directorate at the agency's headquarters in Washington.

    For more information about NASA's Mars programs, visit:

    http://www.nasa.gov/mars

    News Media Contact
    DC Agle
    Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California
    818-393-9011
    agle@jpl.nasa.gov

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