B4. Strategic Quad Selection

Quad

Relief & geological / feature snapshot

Overall gate verdict

Why (one-liner)

North (N)

Polar layered deposits, polar cap margin, troughs & mantled terrains; abundant shallow ice.

Conditional

Resources clear; corridors/EDL/PP & seasonality make first-capital ops marginal.

South (S)

South polar layered deposits & cap margin; scarps, troughs, mantled ice.

Conditional

Same as N: great ice; harsh seasonal ops, PP and corridor reliability to prove.

Alpha (α)

Ismenius/Deuteronilus/Protonilus Mensae: fretted terrains, LDAs/lineated ice, adjacent plains.

Pass

Multi-resource basket + workable low-grade exits and padport geometry.

Beta (β)

Western/central Utopia Planitia lowlands; smooth plains, polygonal ground, buried ice.

Pass

Classically flat, ice-positive; multiple continental corridors and safe EDL.

Gamma (γ)

Eastern Utopia margin into Phlegra forelands; plains with wrinkle ridges & icy aprons.

Pass

Diversified portfolio + corridor options; padport/elevation margins are strong.

Delta (δ)

Arcadia Planitia: broad smooth lowlands, wrinkle ridges, shallow-ice indicators.

Pass

Prime buildability + low-grade multi-azimuth exits; excellent first-capital candidate.

Epsilon (ε)

Alba/Tempe belt & northern Amazonis fringe; benches/scarps with adjacent plains.

Pass

Usable natural windbreak/bench topography; viable corridors and materials.

Zeta (ζ)

Acidalia–Chryse northern lowlands; basin floors, outflow termini, polygonal mantles.

Pass

Broad lowlands, multi-resource spread, good EDL; route around dune pockets.

Eta (η)

Arabia Terra north flank (0–30°N): dissected highland margins, mixed elevations.

Conditional

Portfolio likely, but need clean ≤0 km EDL box(es) and dual low-grade trunking.

Theta (θ)

Isidis Planitia & surrounds: deep basin, smooth plains; access to highland/lowland margin.

Pass

Strong EDL altitude, flat pads, corridors in several azimuths (PP-aware routing).

Iota (ι)

Elysium Planitia periphery (low-lat north): very flat volcanic plains, young flows.

Pass

Excellent buildability/EDL; ensure PP-clean trunks and diversify resources.

Kappa (κ)

Amazonis Planitia (equatorial north): ultra-smooth lava plains, sparse shallow-ice signs.

Conditional

Great EDL/build; must prove 4-class resource diversity and dual continental trunks.

Lambda (λ)

Tharsis rise (equatorial): high elevations, shield volcano flanks, rough relief.

Fail

Altitude kills ≤0 km EDL; egress grades and dust/plume routing poor for a capital.

Mu (μ)

Chryse–Arabia margin (equatorial north): lowland entries, outflow fans, mixed sediments.

Pass

Low altitudes & corridors feasible; PP/heritage routing needs care.

Nu (ν)

Northern southern low-lat belt (0–30°S, 0–60°E): highland edges, dissected plateaus.

Fail

Weak EDL altitude margin; corridor reliability & resource diversity not convincing.

Xi (ξ)

0–30°S, 60–120°E: highland plateaus & dissected terrains.

Fail

Same story—few safe approach boxes and difficult low-grade egress.

Omicron (ο)

0–30°S, 120–180°E: rugged Noachian highlands, scattered basins.

Fail

Elevated, rough; fails EDL/dual-corridor gates for a first capital.

Pi (π)

0–30°S, 180–240°E: Valles Marineris periphery & plateau margins.

Fail

Terrain complexity/elevation; EDL and trunk grades fail for capital needs.

Rho (ρ)

0–30°S, 240–300°E: south Tharsis shoulder, volcanic highs.

Fail

Altitude + relief; cannot meet EDL/grade gates.

Sigma (σ)

0–30°S, 300–360°E: dissected highlands trending to Chryse rim.

Fail

Insufficient ≤0 km EDL and reliable dual corridors.

Tau (τ)

Hellas western/outer environs (30–72°S, 0–60°E): deep basin margins, plains patches.

Conditional

Excellent EDL via Hellas depths; must prove dual ≤1.5% egress and dust routing.

Upsilon (υ)

Hellas eastern/outer environs (30–72°S, 60–120°E).

Conditional

As above; attractive EDL, tricky exits & seasonality to validate.

Phi (φ)

30–72°S, 120–180°E: elevated ancient highlands, rough relief.

Fail

Fails EDL/grade gates; poor corridors.

Chi (χ)

30–72°S, 180–240°E: high, rugged Noachian terrain.

Fail

Same; unsuitable for first-capital trunking/EDL.

Psi (ψ)

30–72°S, 240–300°E: elevated dissected terrains.

Fail

Lacks EDL margin & dual low-grade egress.

Omega (ω)

Argyre basin environs (30–72°S, 300–360°E): deep basin + outer plains.

Conditional

Basin gives EDL; must demonstrate two gentle exits & plume-safe padport geometry.

Quad

Lat-lon

RD

CC

Pad

EDL

PP

Gate verdict

One-line rationale

North (N)

72–90°N

P

C

P

C

C

Conditional

Ice rich, but polar PP & lighting; corridors workable but seasonal.

South (S)

72–90°S

P

C

P

C

C

Conditional

Same as N: ice & PP constraints; corridor grades/seasonality to prove.

Alpha (α)

30–72°N
0–60° E

P

P

P

P

P

Pass

Northern mid-lats (Ismenius/Deuteronilus belts, plains).

Beta (β)

30–72°N
60–120°E

P

P

P

P

P

Pass

Utopia Planitia & surrounds; classic lowlands & ice.

Gamma (γ)

30–72°N
120–180°E

P

P

P

P

P

Pass

E. Utopia / W. Arcadia flank; portfolio + corridors.

Delta (δ)

30–72°N
180–240°E

P

P

P

P

P

Pass

Arcadia Planitia prime; multiple low-grade exits.

Epsilon (ε)

30–72°N
240–300°E

P

P

P

P

P

Pass

N. Amazonis/Tempe/Alba region; workable grades & resources.

Zeta (ζ)

30–72°N
300–360°E

P

P

P

P

P

Pass

Acidalia/Chryse north; broad lowlands, diverse targets.

Eta (η)

0–30°N
0–60°E

C

C

P

C

C

Conditional

Arabia Terra sector; EDL boxes & shallow-ice class need confirmation.

Theta (θ)

0–30°N
60–120°E

P

P

P

P

C

Pass

Isidis Planitia access; PP routing around RSL slopes needed.

Iota (ι)

0–30°N
120–180°E

P

P

P

P

C

Pass

Elysium Planitia (flat, accessible); ensure PP-clean corridors.

Kappa (κ)

0–30°N
180–240°E

C

P

P

P

C

Conditional

Amazonis plains good; portfolio light on shallow ice—must prove 4-class diversity.

Lambda (λ)

0–30°N
240–300°E

C

C

P

F

C

Fail

Tharsis elevation hurts ≤0 km EDL boxes; corridor grades marginal.

Mu (μ)

0–30°N
300–360°E

P

P

P

P

C

Pass

Chryse/Arabia margin; low areas + phyllosilicates; PP routing needed.

Nu (ν)

0–30°S
0–60°E

C

C

P

F

C

Fail

Southern low near highlands; scarce ≤0 km boxes; PP/RSL proximity.

Xi (ξ)

0–30°S
60–120°E

C

C

P

F

C

Fail

Similar issues; EDL margin weak.

Omicron (ο)

0–30°S
120–180°E

C

C

P

F

C

Fail

Highlands adjacency; few safe approach boxes.

Pi (π)

0–30°S
180–240°E

C

C

P

F

C

Fail

Valles/plateau adjacency; EDL & corridors problematic.

Rho (ρ)

0–30°S
240–300°E

C

C

P

F

C

Fail

Tharsis south shoulder; elevation & terrain complexity.

Sigma (σ)

0–30°S
300–360°E

C

C

P

F

C

Fail

No consistent ≤0 km EDL boxes; PP routing issues.

Tau (τ)

30–72°S
0–60°E

P

C

P

P

C

Conditional

Hellas (W) gives EDL; must prove ≤1.5% dual egress corridors.

Upsilon (υ)

30–72°S
60–120°E

P

C

P

P

C

Conditional

Hellas (E) similar; egress grades/plume routing to validate.

Phi (φ)

30–72°S
120–180°E

C

C

P

F

C

Fail

High, rough highlands; weak EDL margin & corridors.

Chi (χ)

30–72°S
180–240°E

C

C

P

F

C

Fail

Same story: elevated Noachian terrains.

Psi (ψ)

30–72°S
240–300°E

C

C

P

F

C

Fail

Highlands; lack of safe approach boxes.

Omega (ω)

30–72°S
300–360°E

P

C

P

P

C

Conditional

Argyre basin EDL; need dual low-grade exits & dust routing proof.

Rank

Quad

Composite

E-balance (% of max)

W-balance (% of max)

One-line strengths

Watch-outs

1

Delta
(δ)

93

95%

90%

Arcadia Planitia: huge flat lowlands, wrinkle ridges, widespread shallow-ice indicators, multi-azimuth low-grade corridors, dual padport geometry.

Dust events & bedform pockets need micro-siting; keep PP buffers on trunk alignments.

2=

Beta
(β)

89

88%

90%

Western/Central Utopia Planitia: exceptionally flat, strong shallow-ice signal, multiple continental corridors, excellent EDL boxes.

Macro dust maintenance; avoid dune fields in trunk planning; keep routing flexible near polygons.

2=

Gamma
(γ)

89

88%

90%

Eastern Utopia → Phlegra forelands: icy lobate aprons + plains, natural benches/scarps for mass-saving civil works, robust EDL/egress.

Fretted/bench terrain needs careful corridor grading; PP routing around sensitive icy scarps.

4

Zeta
(ζ)

85

86%

84%

Acidalia–Chryse north lowlands: diverse sediments/outflow fans, broad EDL margin, strong science/culture vector, decent centrality.

Macro dust/dune pockets more common; heritage zones nearby require by-pass standards.

5

Alpha
(α)

82

81%

82%

Ismenius/Deuteronilus/Protonilus Mensae: abundant ice (LDAs/LVF), adjacent plains, workable padport duality.

Relief/fretted terrain complicates ultra-gentle long corridors; EDL margin not as generous as deep lowlands.

6

Iota
(ι)

79

76%

84%

Elysium Planitia periphery: ultra-flat volcanic plains, very friendly EDL, long straight corridors, good padport siting.

Shallow-ice confidence lower at these lats; resource basket leans volcanic—diversify with adjacent Zands.

7

Theta
(θ)

78

78%

78%

Isidis Planitia & margins: deep basin EDL, multi-directional egress, rich phyllosilicates (science + industry).

PP friction near Nili Fossae/special slopes; ensure plume-safe padport winds across seasons.

8

Mu
(μ)

78

79%

76%

Chryse–Arabia margin: low altitude approaches, outflow-borne aggregates, strong narrative/science capital.

Dust/wind volatility; heritage & PP routing; some rough transitions along highland–lowland rim.

9

Epsilon
(ε)

76

75%

78%

Alba/Tempe/northern Amazonis: useful bench-and-scarp topography for windbreaks and galleries; decent corridor options.

Competitive moat weaker (neighbors have parity); ISRU export less obvious; EDL margin < deep lowlands.

Quad

Resource diversity (×15)

Centrality / can’t bypass (×12)

EDL & altitude margin (×8)

Dust / wind stability (×8)

Padport cons-
tellation (×10)

PP friction (×8)

Expand adjacency (×10)

Compet. moat (×12)

ISRU export option (×7)

Science / culture (×10)

Total

Delta

5

5

5

4

4

5

5

5

4

4

93

Beta

5

5

5

4

5

4

4

4

4

4

89

Gamma

5

5

5

4

5

4

4

4

4

4

89

Zeta

5

3

5

4

5

3

4

5

4

4

85

Alpha

5

5

4

4

4

4

4

4

3

3

82

Iota

4

4

5

4

4

3

4

5

3

3

79

Theta

4

4

5

4

4

3

4

4

4

3

78

Mu

4

4

5

4

4

4

3

5

4

2

78

Epsilon

5

4

4

3

4

3

4

3

3

4

76