Although the area is currently dry, it once supported interconnected lakes during the Pleistocene glacial periods. The Desert also contains areas that have been subjected to extensive hydrothermal activity. All these sites are useful for making the types of measurements needed to test hypotheses related to climatic changes and the extent to which hydrothermal systems have operated on Mars. The sites and instrumentation beyond the spring 1998 field tests will be selected after consultation with the 2001 rover science team and the Science Advisory Group. Use of WITS interface.
Place mast against rocks and acquire microscope imaging data.
Acquire and dispose of soil samples. Traverse 1 to 2 km over basalt flow, desert pavement, alluvial fan, and playa surfaces. Test ideas related to identifying ancient lacustrine environments from rover measurements. Simple sample manipulations. Rocky 8 Site to be selected Field test of major components associated with 2001 rover system.