Drilling station in the Martian polar terrain. The stratified deposits at both Martian poles are an interesting target for exploration. The strata appear to have been built up over many cycles of climatic variation, possibly associated with cycles of change in Mars' axial tilt. Also, this terrain may mark areas where frozen H2O ice melted during some climate cycles. Ancient sediments might be especially important in revealing early condition that could have fostered microbial life on Mars. Drilling stations might be one way to obtain good records of the stratigraphy.
