Data sets from a flyby may give you enough information to develop specialized equipment for the expedition. For example the Conestoga Wagon and the Mars Rover. Compare and contrast the location and the reason for it in the 1850's and today's signs and grafitti. Images from space can be used to trace migration of any grafitti, etc. Compare with map locations and calendar dates.
Research commonalities between different time lapses.
Use of space images of the actual terrain for conjectures. Compare Clark's cartographic skills with images from space and other available data, DEM's, topo maps, etc.