Name: Rick Y.
ProgramYear: 2002
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In the following paragraphs I will identify and explain some of the specific geologic features that can adversely affect space exploration on the planet Mars. The first geologic features are the volcanoes on Mars. One feature that stands out the most on Mars is its shield volcanoes. The area on Mars that consists of the biggest volcanoes is called the Tharsis region. This region contains twelve volcanoes, and the most common is the volcano named Olympus Mons. Its approximate height is 25 km, and has an astonishing diameter of more than 600 km. Furthermore, a volcano northeast of Olympus Mons, in an area called Alba Patera, is truly the largest volcano in the solar system. The diameter of this volcano stretches out 1500 km. If NASA lands on Mars and studies the volcanoes, it will acquire tremendous information about the volcanoes’ characteristics as well as possible past history. To gain this knowledge, NASA will have to develop methods of how to obtain this information, as well as develop equipment and vehicles that can adapt to this harsh type of environment. Secondly, Mars’s canyons are equally as impressive as its volcanoes. Valles Marineris is a system of canyons on the planet Mars. It is generally located on the equator of Mars, and its length covers 1/5 of the way around the planet. The canyons are 4000 km long and at some specific locations, can reach a depth of 10 km. The vast length of the canyon system would be equal to the length of the United States. The specifications of these canyons make them so unique and awesome. I think that one of the most difficult problems will be studying the canyons on Mars because of their death- threatening depths. Sending a human down several miles would be too dangerous, and a robotic machine of some sort could receive live video action, sounds, depth material composition, without risking human life. Another interesting aspect of Mars is its polar ice caps. Mars’s polar ice caps are like Earth’s but change during the seasons on Mars. The ice caps gain many deposits, and make a layer as much as a kilometer thick. Scientists believe that these layers could somehow help them determine how Mars has changed. The Northern polar icecap contains water and ice while the Southern pole consists of water and carbon dioxide ice. The Southern polar ice cap appears a little reddish due to the soil that has mixed in with the ice caps. I believe that the polar ice caps should be a priority when exploring Mars. If water was discovered, the crew that lands on Mars could use it as a valuable resource, and maybe even study the different layers of ice caps to help scientists answer some of their questions about the history of Mars. The crew that goes to Mars would find it most beneficial to break up in groups so that all geological features can be studied. As a result, the time span of the mission would be shortened. Last of all, the cratering on Mars is very impressive in many ways. There seems to be less cratering in the northern part of Mars than the south. Scientists say that during the formation of the planet, Mars was struck with a torrential meteorite shower, creating heavy craters on the surface. An interesting aspect of these craters is not the craters themselves, but the composition of materials that were ejected on impact. The evidence gathered has shown that the craters may consist of frozen water and it may be located somewhere in the crust of Mars. In my research paper on the geology on Mars, I hope to have given you a better understanding of the geological features that make up Mars and, as a result people all over the world will know more about Mars. Sources: 1. http://athena.cornell.edu/mars_facts/geography.html 2. http://www.nd.edu/~cneal/eg.101/geology2/geology2.html 3. http://www.lukew.com/marsgeo/cratering.html http://www.lukew.com/marsgeo/volcanic.html http://www.lukew.com/marsgeo/hydro4.html 4. Lesson 9 The Geology of Mars: Section: Canyons 5. Lesson 9 The Geology of Mars: Section: Ice Caps