Science Question:
The purpose of the original proposal was to study the formation of the valleys and the northern ice cap with the goal of understanding how they were formed during a possible past global water flow. The northern ice cap was selected for study over the southern cap because it is primarily composed of water ice, whereas the southern ice cap contains mostly carbon dioxide ice. Thus, the large scale flow of water early in Mars' history could be analyzed in an attempt to explain the formation of the north polar cap.

Main Results:
Although the picture specifically taken by the THEMIS Camera for this project could not be successfully analyzed, other information proved helpful in trying to answer the original question of how the north pole and inclusive valleys formed on Mars. A substantial amount of evidence was found regarding the formation of the northern ice cap. Specifically, it probably formed over time as water flowed into the north polar region and froze. However, the specific process or processes that created the valleys could not be determined with the limited information available. Although there is evidence that wind played a major role in their formation, there could have been several other contributing factors. These inconclusive results suggest the need for more detailed information and exploration of the north polar region.

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