Overview of the Mars Pathfinder Mission and Assessment of Landing Site Predictions

• DOI: 10.1126/science.278.5344.1743
• Publication Date: 2002-07-27T09:45:15Z
• Authors: M. P. Golombek; R. A. Cook; T. Economou; W. M. Folkner; A. F. C. Haldemann; P. H. Kallemeyn; J. M. Knudsen; R. M. Manning; H. J. Moore; T. J. Parker; R. Rieder; J. T. Schofield; P. H. Smith; R. M. Vaughan
• Keywords: Atmosphere of Mars; Pathfinder; Conglomerate

Chemical analyses returned by Mars Pathfinder indicate that some rocks may be high in silica, implying differentiated parent materials. Rounded pebbles and cobbles a possible conglomerate suggest fluvial processes imply liquid water equilibrium with the atmosphere thus warmer wetter past. The moment of inertia indicates central metallic core 1300 to 2000 kilometers radius. Composite airborne dust particles appear magnetized freeze-dried maghemite stain or cement have been leached from crustal materials an active hydrologic cycle. Remote-sensing data at scale generally greater than approximately 1 kilometer Earth analog correctly predicted rocky plain safe for landing roving variety deposited catastrophic floods are relatively dust-free.