A Sound of Thunder An Orion’s Arm future history image. Image is part of a sequence of images depicting events centered around the Year Zero mark on my future history timeline – establishment of a permanent human settlement on the surface of Mars. See link below. Future History Timeline Context Link: Orion’s Arm Future History Timeline. Above the canyon rim is a visible contrail generated by one of the Mars Settlement Landers in descent. Point of view is approximately 1,418 miles down range from the landing target at Syria Planium. The vehicle at this point is still nested within its protective aero-shell, descending east to west, traveling at high-mach, and in primary powered descent mode. Four externally mounted Gas Core Open-Cycle nuclear thermal rockets fire in unison, generating a combined 600 gigawatts with a resulting braking thrust of 12 million newtons. For Reference to Mars lander powered entry systems, landing vehicle and aero-shell design, see link: Working Group Mars Settlement Transport Diagram Image Composition Note: Terrain in this image is a “composed artistic interpretation” based on the informed opinion and description found in geological analysis of Mars Global Surveyor and other orbiter data – see research notes below. Vantage point I selected is from the floor of the Valles Marineris, near to the base of the southern canyon wall, at the junction of Melas and Coprates chasmata, east of the deepest part of the Valles Marineris system, an area of well defined layered deposits. Running east-west, along the southern wall in this area, there are portions of the floor that are higher than the rest of the floor, most likely left by the continued dropping of the other floor material, leaving higher blocks of terrain along with a few free-standing spires. Research Notes: The floor of Melas Chasma is about 70% younger massive material that is thought to be volcanic ash whipped up by the wind into eolian features. It also contains rough floor material from the erosion of the canyon walls. Analysis of the layered deposits is divided: some interpretations suggest deposits which pre-date the Valles Marineris system, their appearance suggesting erosion and sedimentary processes later cut by the Valles Marineris system, or a succession of landslides, one over another, volcanic in origin, or it may be the bottom of a basin of either liquid or solid water ice suggesting that the peripheral canyons of the Valles Marineris system could have been at one time isolated lakes formed from erosional collapse. Atmosphere is custom, designed to match against true color images from the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity. Canyon floor is a Bryce generated fractal terrain with a custom modification of David Brinnen’s “Beach” material applied. Canyon walls are Tectonics Evolved Desolace, and Searing Mesa, distressed in Terrain Editor, native textures replaced by a custom modification of David Brinnen’s “Seashore” material. Image composition in Bryce 6.3 final render and Pro material modifications in Bryce 7 Pro. As always thank you for your interest, thoughtful comments, and encouragement.