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Prime Landing Sites for MER-A and MER-B
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Includes Tim Parker's landing ellipse maps with MOC images through mission cycle E10.

Last Revision: 08/05/02
Melas Chasma and Eos Chasma have been eliminated for safety reasons (high winds, slopes, and rocks).
Two low-wind sites in Elysium Planitia are being considered as backups.

(Original complete list of all considered sites may be accessed here).

MER-A MER-B Location of Ellipse Center MOLA Elevation
at ellipse center (km)		 Ellipse
MDIM2 MOLA Size Orientation
Ellipse dimensions are given for opening of launch window.
Ellipses are 4-7 km shorter and 3-5° counterclockwise in orientation at close of launch window.
TOP PRIME SITES
HEMATITE IN
TERRA MERIDIANI
Small-Scale Map
1000 x 557; 158 Kb 		Mid-Scale Map
3080 x 1714; 1028 Kb 		Large-Scale Map
4666 x 2598; 2127 Kb 		Interactive MOC Image Maps
Hema. West     Hema. East 		3D VRMLs
Hema. West     Hema. East
TM10A2   2.07S, 6.08W 2.06S, 353.77E -1.44 119 km x 17 km 88°
  TM20B2 2.07S, 6.08W 2.06S, 353.77E -1.44 117 km x 18 km 86°
GUSEV CRATER
Small-Scale Map
1000 x 847; 224 Kb 		Large-Scale Map
3058 x 2592; 1573 Kb 		Interactive MOC Image Map 3D VRML
EP55A2   14.82S, 184.85W 14.64S, 175.06E -1.92 96 km x 19 km 76°
BACKUP SITES
ELYSIUM PLANITIA
Small-Scale Map
1000 x 472; 167 Kb 		Large-Scale Map
3467 x 1637; 2224 Kb 		   
  EP80B2 14.5N, 244.63W 114.32N, 115.20E -2.6 165 km x 15 km 95°
  EP78B2 11.91N, 236.1W 11.73N, 123.72E -2.9 155 km x 16 km 94°
PREVIOUS TOP CANDIDATE SITES
MELAS CHASMA
Small-Scale Map
1000 x 975; 235 Kb 		Large-Scale Map
2646 x 2581; 1461 Kb 		Interactive MOC Image Map 3D VRML
VM53A2   8.88S, 77.48W 8.75S, 282.36E -3.70 103 km x 18 km 80°
  VM53B2 8.88S, 77.48W 8.75S, 282.36E -3.70 105 km x 20 km 82°
ISIDIS PLANITIA
Small-Scale Map
1280 x 422; 175 Kb 		Mid-Scale Map
2560 x 845; 661 Kb 		Large-Scale Map
5680 x 1874; 2264 Kb 		Interactive MOC Image Maps
Isidis West     Isidis East 		3D VRMLs
Isidis West     Isidis East
IP84A2   4.31N, 271.97W 4.22N, 87.91E -3.74 133 km x 16 km 88°
  IP96B2 4.31N, 271.97W 4.22N, 87.91E -3.74 136 km x 16 km 91°
ATHABASCA VALLIS
Small-Scale Map
1000 x 546; 136 Kb 		Large-Scale Map
3626 x 1980; 1211 Kb 		Interactive MOC Image Map 3D VRML
  EP49B2 8.92N, 205.21W 8.83N, 154.67E -2.64 152 km x 16 km 95°
EOS CHASMA
Small-Scale Map
1000 x 921; 396 Kb 		Large-Scale Map
1321 x 1217; 478 Kb 		Interactive MOC Image Map 3D VRML
VM41A2   13.34S, 41.39W 13.20S, 318.46E -3.85 98 km x 19 km 76°

Webwork: Glenn Deardorff NAS Systems Division
Principle
Investigator:		 Dr. Virginia Gulick Center for Mars Exploration
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