Where are all the landers at on mars?

Dook · 2004-01-14 22:59:40

Anyone know where I can get something that shows where on mars all of the landings have taken place? All the Viking missions and foreign countries missions as well? Are they spread out or pretty much contained to one general area? Also if anyone knows where the most likely spot is to first land humans it would be helpful.

Josh Cryer · 2004-01-14 23:10:41

Moving to Unmanned Probes. Try to be less clutterful.

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To answer your question, though. Let me look it up.

Josh Cryer · 2004-01-14 23:14:21

On July 20, 1976 the Viking 1 Lander separated from the Orbiter and touched down at Chryse Planitia (22.48? N, 49.97? W planetographic, 1.5 km below the datum (6.1 mbar) elevation).

The Viking 2 Lander touched down at Utopia Planitia (47.97? N, 225.74? W, 3 km below the datum elevation) on September 3, 1976.

Source: [http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/viking.html]http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/viking.html

Here's a picture showing the Viking/Pathfinder sites: [http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/im … _globe.gif]http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/im … _globe.gif

Hmm, that's the best I can do for now. I gotta go.

RobS · 2004-01-16 07:59:59

They're scattered everywhere. Pathfinder was near Viking 1. MER 1 and 2 are opposite each other and about 90 degees from Viking 1; Beagle's remains are about 180 degrees from Viking 1 and in between MERs 1 and 2.

Note that the circumference of Mars is 21,000 kms or 13,000 miles; more than the distance from Britain to Japan. Mars has as much land as all of Earth's dry land; 50 million square miles (125 million square kilometers) or so. It's a big place.

-- RobS

jadeheart · 2004-01-16 16:33:45

If you get that Marsclock (you need a javascript plugin for it) you can select an option that shows all of the successful landers' positions. Go to the main Rover website and follow the Mars24 link on the left of the page. It will provide you with everything you need. Unfortunately there is no option for having any of the geological features labeled.

The clock is cool in its own right, though. I highly recommend it.

Also, National Geographic put out a map awhile back called "Destination Mars" which is well-labeled and has locations of successful AND failed landers. I think you can order it off the Internet.

b1_ · 2004-01-17 07:54:48

I posted this on another forum a few days back. It should help you out.

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So where are all these landing sites in relation to some of the most famous landmarks on Mars, like [http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/m/d/m … ng_big.jpg]Valles Marineris, and [http://home-1.worldonline.nl/%7Eveenen/ … ars32.html]Olympus Mons (27km high, 500km wide, 6km high cliffs at its base)?

Well check this out:

[http://www.giss.nasa.gov/tools/mars24/]http://www.giss.nasa.gov/tools/mars24/

Simply click on the "View Mars24 Browser Applet" link and you're set. Program marks all landing sites from all past and present Mars missions, and major Mars landmarks, shows sun position and lots more.

If you're interested in finding the exact landing sites (zoom right into the surface; high res images):

[http://marsoweb.nas.nasa.gov/landingsites/index.html]http://marsoweb.nas.nasa.gov/landingsites/index.html (main site)
[http://marsoweb.nas.nasa.gov/landingsit … index.html]http://marsoweb.nas.nasa.gov/landing....ex.html (go straight to landing sites for Spirit and Opportunity)
[http://marsoweb.nas.nasa.gov/landingsit … R07-01606/]http://marsoweb.nas.nasa.gov/landing....7-01606 (spirit landing site in detail)

Here's something interesting also: how they're going to find the exact landing positions of Spirit and Opportunity using the orbitng Mars satellite cameras:
[http://www.msss.com/mer_mission/finding_mer/]http://www.msss.com/mer_mission/finding_mer/

I'll never get lost on Mars now, whew .

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You might also want to check out these two sites for more visualisation, especially the first one which has a some nice images of what mars would look like if it had oceans - it may seem silly but once mars is flooded it's easier to get your bearings.

[http://www.polygonworlds.com/]http://www.polygonworlds.com/ check out the gallery and the mars screensaver.
[http://home-1.worldonline.nl/~veenen/te … /mars.html]http://home-1.worldonline.nl/~veenen/te … /mars.html

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#1 2004-01-14 22:59:40

Re: Where are all the landers at on mars?

#2 2004-01-14 23:10:41

Re: Where are all the landers at on mars?

#3 2004-01-14 23:14:21

Re: Where are all the landers at on mars?

#4 2004-01-16 07:59:59

Re: Where are all the landers at on mars?

#5 2004-01-16 16:33:45

Re: Where are all the landers at on mars?

#6 2004-01-17 07:54:48

Re: Where are all the landers at on mars?

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