Your spacecraft descends as a terrifying rate, slowed only somewhat by the parachute. As your spacecraft lands it sends back beautiful puctures of Valles Marineris. Valles Marineris a canyon system that covers about one fifth the circumference of Mars. Valles Marineris is over 3000 km long and up to 8 km deep. It appears to be made by flowing water from an ancient period in Martian natural history. Your spacecraft hurels toward the Candor Chasm in the Valles Marineris. Because of the probable history of flowing water, and the layering visable on the canyon wall, this would be an excellent place to look for fossils of ancient Martian bacteria.

Unfortunately for you, the walls of the canyon make a difficult target. Your spacecraft hits the wall of the chasm and smashes into a million pieces. Gill Bates says, " a billion dollars here and a billion dollars there, and pretty soon you're talking about real money!"

Because of your keen eye and knowledge of Martian geography, we'll let you go back into space for another try. Click on the Candor Chasm to go back into space. (Hint: try for the volcanos or one of the poles).
 

Life on the Edge	Search for Life	Moon Lab	Space Links