Terrain changes the journey.
The trip home can take a different amount of time from the trip out.
SCIENCE NEEDS A RETURN PLAN.
Plan the science.
Preserve the return.
Terrain, observation time, and a protected reserve shape every Marswalk. Compare the complete round trip before choosing your next observation.
Loading the prepared Mars data and scenario...
Explore a Marswalk planning scenario using real terrain data and adjustable time assumptions.
Discovery takes time.
Every additional observation uses part of a limited mission budget.
Keep the reserve intact.
Compare choices without silently spending the time set aside for returning.
YOUR MISSION WORKSPACE
One destination. A complete return-aware plan.
Planning scenario · Adjustable assumptions
STEP 1 OF 4
Choose a destination
Choose a location on this Mars map. Each letter matches its map marker. Begin with P for a guided walkthrough, or choose S for an image-supported science observation.
Why this location?
Inspect a custom point
Use zero-based grid coordinates, or enable map picking to explore a point in the prepared study area.
H is your scenario origin.
The starting and return point stays fixed for this map. Choose a destination to compare round-trip plans.
STEP 2 OF 4
Plan your observation
STEP 3 OF 4
Understand the decision
Original plan
Calculate a plan first.
Maximum total observation
Extra margin beyond reserve
Original versus revised
| Component | Original | Revised |
|---|
How was this calculated?
Required time = outbound + observation + return + reserve. Directional terrain costs and two Dijkstra searches connect your selected location to a complete round-trip estimate.
STEP 4 OF 4
Save a traceable mission brief
Save your destination, route availability, timing, assumptions, and data sources in one traceable mission brief.
Inspect technical JSON
Mission map Real Mars data · Planning scenario
Map marker key: H, P, S, A, B, C, X
H is the fixed origin, not a destination choice. S is the image-supported science candidate. Some markers may be outside the current view; choose Whole area to locate them. X appears only when a custom point is selected.
Optical surface context
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Blue solid: outboundOrange dashed: return
- Fits time model
- No extra margin
- Exceeds time budget
- Excluded by model
- No connected route
- Unknown data
Explore practice P, science candidate S, observation examples A/B/C, or your custom location X. H is the shared starting and return point.
FROM DATA TO A DECISION
Choose. Plan. Compare. Understand.
HOMEBOUND connects terrain-aware routing with the time available for observation, helping you compare a complete Marswalk plan before departure.
Real source data
Optical imagery and topography from MRO HiRISE, with qualitative thermal-derived context from Mars Odyssey THEMIS.
Adjustable assumptions
Choose the speed, slope limit, observation duration, and reserve for your planning scenario.
Clear decisions
Inspect route availability, compare your time budget, and understand the effect of each observation choice.
Data, assumptions, and methods
What each layer contributes
- HiRISE optical: visual surface context.
- HiRISE terrain: mean elevation and maximum native slope on the prepared model grid.
- THEMIS: qualitative thermal-derived context at native 100 m spacing.
The grid covers about 1.52 × 1.52 km. Routing uses the prepared elevation/slope grid, selected terrain constraints, and diagonal-step rules.
The starting preset uses 30 m/min, a 20-degree slope limit, and uphill 4/downhill 2 coefficients. You can inspect and edit these assumptions in Activities.
Model scope: pre-departure terrain-based travel timing, observation duration, protected reserve, and plan comparison.
Traceable source products
No current mission brief is ready. Calculate and review a plan before printing.