Mawrth Vallis Archives - Astrobiology

Mars vast clay region - View showing the transition between clay units in the Oxia Planum and Mawrth Vallis regions on Mars, taken by the HiRISE camera on NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. -- ESA Larger image

Analog Studies, Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Cryobiology, Desert Worlds, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Terraforming & Geoengineering, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

ExoMars Rosalind Franklin Astrobiology Rover Targets A Vast Bed Of Clay In Its Search For Life

by Keith CowingJune 4, 2026June 26, 2026

In the region where the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover will search for signs of life, clay deposits extend beyond previous estimates, a new study finds. One hypothesis even suggests a […]

The Mawrth Vallis region with the proposed landing site areas over (left) MOLA altimetry superposed on the THEMIS (Thermal Emission Imaging System) daytime IR mosaic and (right) HRSC (High Resolution Stereo Camera) color and nadir mosaic. The ellipse envelopes are drawn in white for Mars2020 (12 km x 10 km) and red for ExoMars. The ellipses (120 km x 19 km) for ExoMars Launch Program Opening and Closing (LPO and LPC respectively) are in yellow. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Sample Return, Status Report

Mawrth Vallis, Mars: A Fascinating Place For Future In Situ Exploration

by Keith CowingNovember 26, 2024November 26, 2024

After the successful landing of the Mars Science Laboratory rover, both NASA and ESA initiated a selection process for potential landing sites for the Mars2020 and ExoMars missions, respectively.

A Clay-Rich Mound In An Eroded Plateau On Mars

Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Status Report

A Clay-Rich Mound In An Eroded Plateau On Mars

by Keith CowingJanuary 12, 2024January 12, 2024

These mounds contain bright-toned material which have been found to be clay-bearing with data from the CRISM instrument on MRO.

Oxia Planum landing site candidate for the ExoMars 2020 mission

Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Tricorders & Sensors

Landing Site Selected For UK ExoMars Rover Rosalind Franklin

by Keith CowingNovember 13, 2018April 13, 2024

A group of scientists and engineers in Leicester has recommended Oxia Planum as the best landing site for the British-built Mars rover “Rosalind Franklin.”