Phyllosilicate (clay) minerals have been detected in this region by imaging spectrometers on the Mars Express and MRO spacecraft, and these minerals are of great interest in the search for evidence of life on ancient Mars.

Some day the capability may exist for precision landing and hazard avoidance, so a rover could be set down right next to rocky outcrops of interest for study, and perhaps collecting rock samples for return to Earth. The cutout illustrates some of these rocky mesas. It would take a person about 30 minutes to hike across this 1.1 kilometer wide area.

ID: PSP_003231_2095
date: 5 April 2007
altitude: 287 km

https://uahirise.org/hipod/PSP_003231_2095
NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona
#Mars #science #NASA