Terrain
After about 100 to 200 million years after the Sea of Serenity was formed, lava flowed out and began to fill the low places. By landing in the middle of the valley, the lunar rover will be able to take samples of the dark soil; collect samples of the valley-filling lavas dug out by impacts; and sample pre-Sea of Serenity crustal material. [7] In addition, there are large boulders at the edge of tracks that were photographed by Apollo 15. Some additional points of interest include an avalanche that drapes across the southern end of the area, and a crater called Shorty which sits like a dark blemish at the northern tip of the landslide outflow. It is possible that this might be a volcanic vent. Next, there are the Sculptured Hills which appear not to be directly related to the creation of the Sea of Serenity. [7]
Taurus-Littrow is on an axis that points northwest toward the center of the Sea of Serenity. At its inner, southeastern end, the valley butts up against a large, blocky mountain called the East Massif. Toward the south, a narrow outlet - partially blocked by a large crater - leads off to another valley On the west side of this outlet, a second blocky mountain called the South Massif forms the southwestern wall of Taurus-Littrow. North of the East Massif, across an outlet into another small valley, the Sculptured Hills and farther to the west, the North Massif form the remaining walls of Taurus-Littrow. [7] Between the North and South Massifs, the main exit from the valley leads out toward the Sea of Serenity. This exit is about seven kilometers wide and is partially blocked by a kilometer-high hill called Family Mountain and, also, by a fault scarp that stretches between the North and South Massifs. Thanks to the variety of geologic structures this site was chosen for the Apollo 17 mission and is also one of the reasons we selected it for our landing site. [8]
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