Major Questions/Criteria
Landing Sites
Science Criteria
Hematite
Gusev
Isidis
Melas
Eos
Athabasca
Evidence for Water Activity
n
n
n
n
n
n
Address Climate/Geologic History
n
n
n
n
n
n
Preserve Biotic/Prebiotic Materials
n
n
n
n
n
n
Definitive Testing of Hypothesis(es)
n
n
n
n
n
n
Accessible Diversity Within the Site
n
n
n
n
n
n
Site Diversity (for MERs)
n
n
n
n
n
n
Site Diversity (from VL and MPF)
n
n
n
n
n
n
Materials for Athena Analyses
n
n
n
n
n
n
Rock Abundance (pro and con)
n
n
n
n
n
n
Trafficability
n
n
n
n
n
n
Amount of Dust Obscuration
n
n
n
n
n
n
Mission Lifetime
n
n
n
n
n
n
Relief at Scale of Rover Traverse
n
n
n
n
n
n
Potential Useful Earth Analogs
n
n
n
n
n
n
Safety Criteria
1 km Slope
n
n
n
n
n
n
100 m Slope
n
n
n
n
n
n
10 m Slope
n
n
n
n
n
n
Relief (Craters, Hills)
n
n
n
n
n
n
Rock Abundance/Trafficability
n
n
n
n
n
n
Potentially Hazardous Rocks
n
n
n
n
n
n
Horizontal Winds (Shear/Turbulence)
n
n
n
n
n
n
Horizontal Winds (Sustained Mean)
n
n
n
n
n
n
Vertical Winds
n
n
n
n
n
n
Temperature at Site
n
n
n
n
n
n
Dust
n
n
n
n
n
n
Load Bearing Surface
n
n
n
n
n
n
Elevation
n
n
n
n
n
n
Radar Reflectivity
n
n
n
n
n
n
Public Engagement
Aesthetics (Views/Relief)
n
n
n
n
n
n
Differs from VL or MPF Sites
n
n
n
n
n
n
Habitability for Life (Past or Present)
n
n
n
n
n
n
Explainable to Public (Good Story)
n
n
n
n
n
n