Part of the layered terrain at 75 degrees S. latitude.
Click on image for full size
Image from: Malin Space Science Systems
The Mars '98 Landing Site
The
Mars '98 lander was supposed to land in the
south polar region of Mars. This image of layered terrain near the south pole was provided by the
Mars Global Surveyor mission.
In the image, ground fog obscures part of the landscape. Nevertheless, it can be seen that there are swirling bands of eroded, layered rock present. These rocky layers seem to have a familiar form, somewhat like the edges of Alaskan ice sheets. The landscape seems to be more rugged and geologically diverse than scientists had expected.
The Mars Global Surveyor mission took more images of possible landing sites for Mars '98, but unfortunately, communication with the Mars '98 lander was lost, so the probe never got to land on Mars!
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