TIL: Choosing a Mars Landing Spot is Harder Than You Think | Today I Learned

if you have an entire planet to explore

if you have an entire planet to explore where do you go Mars is a place where we

where do you go Mars is a place where we

where do you go Mars is a place where we can get Rovers on the ground but what is

can get Rovers on the ground but what is

can get Rovers on the ground but what is the one site that will tell us the most

the one site that will tell us the most

the one site that will tell us the most about Mars so first can we land there is

about Mars so first can we land there is

about Mars so first can we land there is it safe

it safe

it safe second do we want to land there and is

second do we want to land there and is

second do we want to land there and is this the best site for this mission and

this the best site for this mission and

this the best site for this mission and third once we get there what exactly do

third once we get there what exactly do

third once we get there what exactly do we do and what if our Rover lasts longer

we do and what if our Rover lasts longer

we do and what if our Rover lasts longer than we expect what do we do next how do

than we expect what do we do next how do

than we expect what do we do next how do we keep exploring there are many reasons

we keep exploring there are many reasons

we keep exploring there are many reasons that we want to go to Mars the first big

that we want to go to Mars the first big

that we want to go to Mars the first big one is why did Mars transition from what

one is why did Mars transition from what

one is why did Mars transition from what was once a warmer wetter world to the

was once a warmer wetter world to the

was once a warmer wetter world to the cold dry planet we see today the other

cold dry planet we see today the other

cold dry planet we see today the other is could Mars hosts habitats even today

we could go to a former lake we could go

we could go to a former lake we could go to a deep canyon we could go to an

to a deep canyon we could go to an

to a deep canyon we could go to an ancient volcano once the specific area

ancient volcano once the specific area

ancient volcano once the specific area is narrowed down that’s where the

is narrowed down that’s where the

is narrowed down that’s where the detailed assessment really begins

we need to absolutely get the landing

we need to absolutely get the landing site process right in terms of safety

site process right in terms of safety

site process right in terms of safety every pixel in the highest resolution

every pixel in the highest resolution

every pixel in the highest resolution images that we have on the surface is

images that we have on the surface is

images that we have on the surface is scrutinized for rocks that might be

scrutinized for rocks that might be

scrutinized for rocks that might be challenging to the landing system or

challenging to the landing system or

challenging to the landing system or obstacles that might inhibit rover

obstacles that might inhibit rover

obstacles that might inhibit rover driving but there is no wrong choice

driving but there is no wrong choice

driving but there is no wrong choice from a science perspective we will learn

from a science perspective we will learn

from a science perspective we will learn something wherever we are it’s just some

something wherever we are it’s just some

something wherever we are it’s just some choices could be more right than others

choices could be more right than others

choices could be more right than others in terms of the big picture

in terms of the big picture

in terms of the big picture understanding of Mars history or

understanding of Mars history or

understanding of Mars history or evidence for past life everything you

evidence for past life everything you

evidence for past life everything you see on a spacecraft is usually designed

see on a spacecraft is usually designed

see on a spacecraft is usually designed and built by mechanical engineer and I

and built by mechanical engineer and I

and built by mechanical engineer and I get to do that my fundamental job is to

get to do that my fundamental job is to

get to do that my fundamental job is to design and build hardware that goes out

design and build hardware that goes out

design and build hardware that goes out and explores our universe