SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR
Research Plan and/or Abstract for 2018

Student Name Sujit Lakshmikanth
School Name/Tchr Novi Senior High School - James Didio
Project Title Mars Exploration Zone Map Design for the Manned Mission to Mars
Category: PH - Physics & Astronomy
Grade: 9
Exhibit Location: S-PH-006(39609)

Category Award:   4 (Blue - Outstanding)

Research Plan:


Abstract:
Abstract: The goal of this abstract is to propose a road/resource map for the Mawrth Vallis exploration zone to
guide the exploration of the manned missions to Mars. Mawrth Vallis is a 636 km ancient water outflow channel
which terminates at the border of the southern highlands and northern lowlands. Just south of the terminus of
Mawrth Vallis, is the exploration zone. There is a high bio-signature preservation potential, meaning that most
evidence of the past environment would have been likely to be preserved. The exploration zone contains the largest
amount of phyllosilicates on Mars, which would yield information about past environments, and also water can be
extracted and other elements such as Iron, Aluminum, and Silicon can also be collected from the clay. Mawrth
Vallis also has the most abundant hydrated mineral resource on Mars. All the craters, water features, labels, and the routes were all drawn with the Science ROIs layer. The landing sites were drawn with the Landing Zone layer, and the ellipses were made with the Landing Site Ellipse layer, which I renamed to Science and Resource ROIs +
Outcrop B. This map of Mawrth Vallis should be used during the manned mission to Mars because this map shows
many of the natural features of the exploration zone, the routes are at a low incline, which would reduce difficulty
traveling through the Mawrth Vallis. Most of the distances between the landing sites and ROIs as well as between
the ROIs are short, which reduces time for traveling and increase time for exploration.


 

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