Candidate cave entrances on Mars
Alternative Title
Journal of Cave and Karst Studies
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Publication Date
1-1-2012
Volume Number
74
Issue Number
1
Abstract
This paper presents newly discovered candidate cave entrances into Martian near-surface lava tubes, volcano-tectonic fracture systems, and pit craters and describes their characteristics and exploration possibilities. These candidates are all collapse features that occur either intermittently along laterally continuous trench-like depressions or in the floors of sheer-walled atypical pit craters. As viewed from orbit, locations of most candidates are visibly consistent with known terrestrial features uch as tube-fed lava flows, volcano-tectonic fractures, and pit craters, each of which forms by mechanisms that can produce caves. Although we cannot determine subsurface extents of the Martian features discussed here, some may continue nimpeded for many kilometers if terrestrial examples are indeed analogous. The features presented here were identified in images acquired by the Mars Odyssey’s Thermal Emission Imaging System visiblewavelength camera, and by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter’s Context Camera. Select candidates have since been targeted by the High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment. Martian caves are promising potential sites for future human habitation and astrobiology investigations; understanding their characteristics is critical for long-term mission planning and for developing the necessary exploration technologies.
Document Type
Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.4311/2010EX0167R
Recommended Citation
Cushing, Glen E., "Candidate cave entrances on Mars" (2012). KIP Articles. 6190.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/kip_articles/6190