Mission to Mars

Choosing a landing site

Sometime during the next twenty years, a human being may step out of a spacecraft and actually set foot onto the surface of another world, the Planet Mars! Before that day comes, many unmanned missions will take place to lead the way. One question that will need to be answered is where is a suitable place to land. If you compare the diameter of Mars with the diameter of Earth, it is approximately one-half the size. But because Mars has no oceans like Earth, the amount of land is almost the same. This makes for a great deal of land to choose from! What do you think would be important for a landing site to have?

• Make a list of what you believe are the most important factors to consider in choosing a landing site. Be sure to write down your reasons for your choices.
• In a small group, compare your lists and decide which are the five most important reasons. List them in order with #1 being the most important reason. Share your results with your entire class.

Now, try the student activities or go to other sites for further information!