Mars Exploration Rover Project

LANDING SITE SELECTION SCHEDULE

• 9/00 Define Preliminary Engineering Constraints
• Preliminary Identification Potential Landing Sites-About Dozen (MER-A)
  • Define Remote Sensing Criteria for Acceptable Sites
• 1/01 Open Landing Site Workshop - What Science Where?
  • Input from LSSC and PSG
• 3/01 Prioritized List of ~Half Dozen Sites - Target MOC Images
• 2 - 9/01 Detailed Evaluation of Sites-JPL, Project Scientists, MDAP Investigators
• 9/01 Reprioritization of Top Sites, 9/01 by Project
  • With Input from Science Community, LSSC, and MEP
  • Continue MOC Acquisition
• 4/02 Open Landing Site Workshop - Focus on Top 4 Sites
  • Detailed Evaluation of Surface Characteristics and Science Potential
  • Continued MOC, Start THEMIS Data Acquisition
• 4/02 - Landing Site Selection by Project
  • With Input from Science Community, LSSC and MEP
• 5/02 - Headquarters Review & Approval
• 6/02 Delta LV Guidance Parameters for Landing Site
  • Continued Evaluation of Selected Sites
• 6/03 Launch

Site Selection Plan