Planetary exploration increasingly depends on planning frameworks
that can convert verified geoscientific evidence into transparent
observational priorities. This study presents a geospatial
decision-support framework for Mercury’s Michelangelo quadrangle (H12),
using the published 1:3,000,000 geological map and its associated
MESSENGER MDIS data foundation as the basis for mission-planning
analysis. The quadrangle spans 22.5∘S–65∘S and 180∘E–270∘E, covering almost 6.5% of
Mercury’s surface, or nearly 5 million km2. The mapped terrain is dominated
by intermediate plains and class-c2 degraded crater materials, while
smooth plains are comparatively limited and largely confined to crater
and basin interiors. The source mapping identifies two principal
spectral terrain associations: a dark-blue western sector linked to
intermediate plains and Beethoven ejecta, and brighter reddish/yellow
terrains that coincide more closely with smooth plains and fresher
crater materials. Building on those verified relationships, this paper
converts the quadrangle into planning-relevant observation zones,
applies an explicit rule-based prioritization with internal consistency
checks, and formalizes a sequence for allocating mission attention to
compositional, tectonic, and surface-process targets. The result is a
planning study that translates a complex geological map into a
transparent and reproducible framework for prioritization, staging, and
comparative target selection in planetary mission design.