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Mars in a Minute

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How Do You Choose
a Landing Site?

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So, you want to study Mars
with a lander or rover

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- but where exactly
do you send it?

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It's a tricky question, for
engineers and scientists.

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You want it all: to land,
work and discover.

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To land safely means no
high-elevation sites,

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where there isn't
enough atmosphere

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to slow you down
in time.

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And, try to avoid places
with steep slopes

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or big rocks that could
damage something.

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You also don't want to sink
into a thick layer of dust!

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Working is easier
near the equator,

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where seasons aren't so extreme,

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and where solar panels
can get lots of sun.

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And, of course, don't send a
rover somewhere it can't drive!

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Most important is what
you want to discover.

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Some sites are great for
studying rock layers;

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others might be perfect
to listen for quakes.

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Using Mars orbiters,

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you can collect lots of
data on potential sites.

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When you find the best spot
to land, work and discover,

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you've found your
new home on Mars!

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NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory