Below is the text of the FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT sent out by the Lunar and Planetary Institute (Houston, Texas) regarding the Channeled Scablands Trip.
The purpose of the workshop is to provide a focus for learning as much as we can about the Ares Vallis region on Mars before we land there. The rationale is that the more we learn about the general area prior to landing, the better we will be able to interpret the observations made by the lander and rover and place them in the proper geologic context. The capabilities of the lander and rover are detailed in the technical report from the first workshop (LPI Technical Report 94-04; additional project information is available on the World-Wide Web, URL http://mpfwww.jpl.nasa.gov). The workshop solicits abstracts and presentations on any aspect of the Ares Vallis site, including but not limited to the geology, geomorphology, paleohydrology, cratering, surface characteristics, atmosphere, and paleobiology. The workshop not only seeks to learn as much as possible about the specific landing site itself, but also to learn about the processes and characteristics of the general region, which will aid the interpretation of observations made at the landing site (a simple example might be the characterization of sources for rocks at the Ares site).
The field trip is to investigate on Earth features similar to those present at the landing site to better understand them. The field trip will include overflights and surface investigations of the Channeled Scablands (Cheney-Palouse, Dry Falls, Ephrata Fan, and Quincy Basin regions), focusing on areas particularly analogous to Ares Vallis and the landing site. The field trip is primarily directed at educational outreach involving K-12 teachers (from Washington and Idaho only) and selected Mars Pathfinder personnel, but a limited number of slots will be made available to interested scientists. The field trip will be led by Vic Baker (University of Arizona) and convened by Ken Edgett and Jim Rice (Arizona State University).
The field trip, scheduled for September 25-27, 1995, will be based out of Spokane and Moses Lake, Washington. A pre-field trip introduction and orientation will take place on Sunday evening, September 24, in Spokane. The workshop will be held September 28-29, 1995, in Spokane; workshop participants are not required to attend the field trip. If there is sufficient interest, a single-day field trip to the Missoula Lake break-out could be held on Saturday, September 30, 1995.
Please complete and return the enclosed indication of interest form (NOTE- contact LPI for form) by March 31, 1995. Please indicate your interest in attending (1) the preworkshop field trip to the Channeled Scablands, (2) the workshop itself, and/or (3) the postworkshop field trip to the Missoula Lake breakout. Please indicate also a tentative title and short description of your workshop presentation. A second announcement will be sent to all respondents in mid April; this mailing will include field trip and workshop registration forms, logistical information, and abstract preparation instructions. A final announcement is planned for early August; it will include the preliminary workshop program and more detailed logistical information.
Questions about the technical content of the workshop should be directed to:
Matthew Golombek Mars Pathfinder Project Scientist Mail Stop 230-235 Jet Propulsion Laboratory 4800 Oak Grove Drive Pasadena, CA 91109 email: mgolombek@jpl.nasa.gov
Questions about the field trip should be directed to:
Kenneth Edgett or James Rice Arizona Mars K-12 Education Program Department of Geology, Box 871404 Arizona State University Tempe, AZ 85287-1404 email: edgett@elvis.mars.asu.edu
Requests concerning workshop logistics should be directed to:
Pathfinder II Workshop Publications and Program Services Department Lunar and Planetary Institute 3600 Bay Area Boulevard Houston, Texas 77058-1113 phone: 713-486-2158 fax: 713-486-2160 email: simmons@lpi.jsc.nasa.gov
March 31 Indication of Interest forms due at LPI. mid April Second announcement (including field trip and workshop registration forms, logistical information, and abstract preparation instructions) to be mailed. June 16 Deadline for field trip registration and deposit July 10 Deadline for abstract submission early August Final Announcement (including preliminary program and more detailed logistical information) to be mailed. September 1 Deadline for registration for workshop and/or balance of field trip registration fee. Sept. 24-27 Field Trip to Channeled Scablands Sept. 28-29 Workshop in Spokane, Washington September 30 Field trip to Missoula Lake break-out (tentative).