Photogeologic Map of the Perseverance Rover Field Site in Jezero Crater Constructed by the Mars 2020 Science Team

K. M. Stack(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), N. R. Williams(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), F. J. Calef(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), V. Z. Sun(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Kenneth H. Williford(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Kenneth A. Farley(California Institute of Technology), Sigurd Eide(University of Oslo), David Flannery(Queensland University of Technology), C. M. Hughes(Western Washington University), Samantha Jacob(Arizona State University), Linda C. Kah(Knoxville College), Forrest Meyen(Draper Laboratory), A. Molina(Centro de Astrobiología), Cathy Quantin Nataf(Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1), M. S. Rice(Queensland University of Technology), Patrick Russell(University of California, Los Angeles), Eva L. Scheller(California Institute of Technology), Christina H. Seeger(Western Washington University), William Abbey(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Jacob Adler(Johns Hopkins University), H. E. F. Amundsen(Planet), R. B. Anderson(Flagstaff Medical Center), S. M. Angel(University of South Carolina), Gorka Arana(University of the Basque Country), J. Atkins(Knoxville College), M. Barrington(Cornell University), Tor Berger(Norwegian Armed Forces), Rose Borden(Knoxville College), B. Boring(Knoxville College), A. J. Brown, Brandi L. Carrier(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), P. G. Conrad(Carnegie Institution for Science), Henning Dypvik(University of Oslo), S. A. Fagents(University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa), Z. E. Gallegos(University of New Mexico), Brad Garczynski(Purdue University West Lafayette), K. B. Golder(Knoxville College), Felipe Gómez(Centro de Astrobiología), Y. S. Goreva(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Sanjeev Gupta(Imperial College London), Svein‐Erik Hamran(University of Oslo), Taryn Hicks(Knoxville College), Eric D. Hinterman(Massachusetts Institute of Technology), B. Horgan(Purdue University West Lafayette), J. A. Hurowitz(State University of New York), J. R. Johnson(Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory), J. Lasue(Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier), R. E. Kronyak(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Yang Liu(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Juan Manuel Madariaga(University of the Basque Country), N. Mangold(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), John McClean(Imperial College London), N. Miklusicak(Knoxville College), D. C. Nunes(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Corrine Rojas(Arizona State University), Kirby Runyon(Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory), Nicole Schmitz(Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR)), N. A. Scudder(Purdue University West Lafayette), E. Shaver(Knoxville College), Jason Soohoo(Massachusetts Institute of Technology), R. Spaulding(Knoxville College), Evan Stanish(University of Winnipeg), L. K. Tamppari(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Michael M. Tice(Texas A&M University), Nathalie Turenne(University of Winnipeg), Peter A. Willis(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), R. A. Yingst(Planetary Science Institute)
Space Science Reviews
November 3, 2020
10.1007/s11214-020-00739-x
Cited by 128Open Access
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Abstract

The Mars 2020 Perseverance rover landing site is located within Jezero crater, a ∼ 50 km diameter impact crater interpreted to be a Noachian-aged lake basin inside the western edge of the Isidis impact structure. Jezero hosts remnants of a fluvial delta, inlet and outlet valleys, and infill deposits containing diverse carbonate, mafic, and hydrated minerals. Prior to the launch of the Mars 2020 mission, members of the Science Team collaborated to produce a photogeologic map of the Perseverance landing site in Jezero crater. Mapping was performed at a 1:5000 digital map scale using a 25 cm/pixel High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) orthoimage mosaic base map and a 1 m/pixel HiRISE stereo digital terrain model. Mapped bedrock and surficial units were distinguished by differences in relative brightness, tone, topography, surface texture, and apparent roughness. Mapped bedrock units are generally consistent with those identified in previously published mapping efforts, but this study's map includes the distribution of surficial deposits and sub-units of the Jezero delta at a higher level of detail than previous studies. This study considers four possible unit correlations to explain the relative age relationships of major units within the map area. Unit correlations include previously published interpretations as well as those that consider more complex interfingering relationships and alternative relative age relationships. The photogeologic map presented here is the foundation for scientific hypothesis development and strategic planning for Perseverance's exploration of Jezero crater.

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