QUESTION:
Which sites have NASA scientists considered or will consider for the 2003
rover mission?  Why?  Would landing at Amazonis Planitia or the shorelines
of Cydonia be possible?  I am looking for very detailed information on the
sites mentioned above.  Where would I find it?

ANSWER from Nathan Bridges on September 6, 2000:
    No landing sites have yet been chosen for the 2003 rovers.  Latitude
and elevation are the major constraints.  Because the rovers will be
powered by solar energy, it is necessary to land in a region the receives
sufficient solar insolation.  This restricts the landing sites to a band
roughly between 15°S and 5°N.  Due to the necessity of having sufficient
atmospheric density to decelerate the parachute that will bring the rovers
near the surface, elevations are restricted to ~ -2.25 to -1.5 km
(elevations are relative to the geoid as defined by the recent Mars Global
Surveyor Spacecraft).

    Because of these contraints, neither Amazonis nor Cydonia can be
attempted for the 2003 missions.  However, they could be a goal of a
mission in 2005 or later.  Possible options  for 2003 are the rim of Isidis
Planitia and a region near the equator and 0°W that may contain the mineral
hematite deposited from water.  However, many more sites will be considered
prior to making the final choice.

   For getting images of the areas you are interested in, check out
http://www.msss.com/moc_gallery/index.html .  To find other information,
such as elevation, estimated rock abundance, etc., see
http://webgis.wr.usgs.gov/mars.htm .