On July 4, 1997 the Mars Pathfinder landed in the rocky flood plain
of Ares Vallis. The abundance of rocks has supplied ample specimens
for investigation. Ares Vallis is located at 19.5 degrees north latitude
and 32.8 degrees west longitude. Using old Viking images, Deep Space
Network radar studies and Hubble Space Telescope images helped to make
landing on the surface of Mars a success.
The site had to fall within the following contraints:
- below the mean planet surface in order to produce a low parachute
terminal velocity
- within 5 degrees of the subsolar latitude, 15 degrees N. at landing
time, for best solar-cell operation
- flat surface
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