[Mr. K]

why do they always land where there’s NOTHING?

It’s like sending a lander to the middle of the Sahara desert to learn about earth.

Go to where the FACE is in Cydona for keeripes sake

[John Locke]

My thoughts also. If the universe is "finely tuned for life", why are there no photos of Dejah Thoris hosting a picnic alongside the canal? Or of tharks in single combat to the death?

The universe of science fiction was finely tuned for life. Ours, rather less so.

[dragnet2]

why do they always land where there’s NOTHING?

If one would take a few minutes to actually read about the mission, this flat desolate location, with few rocks, hills etc, was intentionally targeted to meet the mission requirements. The location is so flat they landed the craft with only about 2 degrees off from being level, which was also critical to the mission.

[dragnet2]

By the way, they've obtained thousands of images of the surface which are far from flat or unvaried. But this mission needed flat, sandy and as rock free as possible.

The view from Mount Sharp on Mars, as seen by the Curiosity rover on April 10, 2015. (Source: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS)

[Celtic Conservative]

Near the edge of utopia planitia would be “ nreathtsking”.

CC