# Presentation: 756939

## 2009 Mars Science Laboratory:

**2009 Mars Science Laboratory:**
**Rhythmic Sedimentary Rock Outcrops **
**in the West Arabia Terrane**

**Ezat Heydari**
***Jackson State University, Jackson***** *****MS 39217***
**Linda C. Kah**
***University of Tennessee, Knoxville TN 37996***
**Michael C. Malin**
***Malin Space Science Systems, San Diego, CA 92191***
**Peter C. Thomas**
***Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853***

## MSL Scientific Objectives

**Characterize the geology & geochemistry of the landing region**
**   **•** ****Investigate the chemical, isotopic, and mineralogical composition **
**    **•** ****Interpret rock-forming processes**
**Characterize a broad spectrum of surface radiation**
**Investigate processes relevant to past habitability**
**    **•** ****Determine present state, distribution, and cycling of water and CO****2**
**    **•** ****Assess long-timescale evolution of Martian atmosphere/hydrosphere**** **
**Assess the biological potential of the target environment**
-     •** ****Inventory the chemical building blocks of life (C, H, N, O, P, S)**
-     •** ****Determine the nature of any organic carbon compounds**
**    **

**MSL Scientific Objectives**

**To explore and quantitatively assess**
**potential habitability, past or present,**
**of a local, surficial region of Mars**

## Entry, Descent, and Landing...

**Entry, Descent, and Landing...**
**Landing Site Constraints**

** ****3******** Landing Ellipse = 20 km diameter circle**
** ****Elevation = ≤ +2 km relative to MOLA datum**
**Latitude Range = ± 60°**
**Slopes**
**≤ ****3° over 2–5 km distances **
**≤ ****15° over 20–40 m distances **
**≤ ****15° over 5 m distances**
** ****Rocks, dust, winds, temperature, reflectivity, etc.**

**Best places to assess habitability **
**generally make poor landing sites...**

## Rover mobility

**Rover mobility**
**permits assessment**
**of ‘go to’ sites**

## Regions of Interest

**Regions of Interest**

## Layered strata 

**Layered strata **
**have the greatest potential**
**to achieve the scientific objectives **
**of the MSL mission**

## Location: 8.9°N, 1.2°W

**Location: 8.9****°****N, 1.2****°****W**

**West Arabia Terrane**

## Crater (8.9° N, 1.2° W) – West Arabia Terrane

**Crater (8.9° N, 1.2° W) – West Arabia Terrane**

**N**

**S**

## N

**Possible North Landing Ellipse**

**Possible South Landing Ellipse**

**3 meters per pixel**

**3 meters per pixel**

**N**

**N**

## Albedo of the West Arabia Crater

**Albedo of the West Arabia Crater**

**Crater ~22 km diameter**

## Crater Rim

**Geology of the West Arabia Crater**

**• ****low relief, low elevation uplands**
**• ****rim slopes typically shallow 3-7°**
**• ****mantled with windblown sediment**
**• ****very rare secondary channels**

**Crater Rim**

**Boxed field **
**~6 km wide**

## Cratered Region

**Geology of the West Arabia Crater**

**• ****MGS-MOLA elevations ~-2500 m**
**• ****base of well-preserved succession**
**• ****partially mantled**
**   ****- lower albedo sediment in S**
**   ****- high albedo sediment in N **

**Cratered Region**

**Boxed field **
**~6 km wide**

## Lower Strata

**Geology of the West Arabia Crater**

**• ****five discrete, relatively thin layers**
**• ****overlie heavily cratered terrane**
**• ****well indurated, moderate jointing**
**• ****distinct erosional pattern**

**W**

**1**

**2**

**3**

**4**

**5**

**Lower Strata**

**Boxed field **
**~6 km wide**

## Channeled Area

**Geology of the West Arabia Crater**

**• ****uncertain timing of formation**
**• ****cuts through lower stratal package**
**• ****cuts through cratered crater floor**
**• ****filled by (sources?) low albedo **
**   ****sediment that mantles upper strata**

**Channeled Area**

**Boxed field **
**~6 km wide**

## Upper Strata

**Geology of the West Arabia Crater**

**• ****moderate to high albedo strata**
**• ****>30 thin (<10 m), discrete layers**
**• ****one or more “massive” intervals**
**• ****unconformably overlie other strata**
**• ****highly susceptible to wind erosion **

**Upper Strata**

**Boxed field **
**~6 km wide**

## West Arabia – Unconformable Lower/Upper Strata

**West Arabia – Unconformable Lower/Upper Strata**

**Boxed field **
**~2 km wide**

**L1**

**L2**

**L3**

**C**

## West Arabia – Unconformable Lower/Upper Strata

**West Arabia – Unconformable Lower/Upper Strata**

**Boxed field **
**~2 km wide**

**L1**

**L2**

**L3**

**L4**

## West Arabia – Unconformable Lower/Upper Strata

**West Arabia – Unconformable Lower/Upper Strata**

**Boxed field **
**~2 km wide**

**L5**

**L4**

**L3**

## Synthetic Cross-Section of the West Arabia Crater

**Synthetic Cross-Section of the West Arabia Crater**

**NE**

**NE**

**SW**

**NE**

**Upper**
**Strata**

**Lower**
**Strata**

**Cratered**
**floor**

**Crater**
**Rim**
***(mantled)***

**-1500 m at rim, -2500 m at floor**

## Crater (8.9° N, 1.2° W) – West Arabia Terrane

**Crater (8.9° N, 1.2° W) – West Arabia Terrane**

**N**

**S**

## West Arabia Crater

**8.9° N, 1.2° W**