NASA is reimagining its Mars Sample Return mission to expedite the return of Martian rocks and soil to Earth, aiming for the 2030s. The original plan, projected to cost $11 billion and deliver samples by 2040, has been overhauled to reduce expenses and accelerate the timeline. AP News
Revised Mission Plans
Administrator Bill Nelson announced two cost-effective strategies:
Sky Crane Approach: Utilizing the "sky crane" landing system, previously employed in missions like Perseverance and Curiosity, to deploy a sample retrieval vehicle on Mars.
Commercial Collaboration: Partnering with private companies, such as SpaceX, to develop innovative landing systems, potentially leveraging existing technologies like the Starship rocket. El PaÃs
Both options aim to streamline the mission by cleaning sample tubes on Mars and incorporating nuclear power to withstand Martian dust storms. AP News
Timeline and Objectives
The mission plans to launch in 2030, using an ESA orbiting spacecraft to return the samples to Earth between 2035 and 2039. This initiative seeks to enhance our understanding of Mars' geological history, climate evolution, and the potential for past life, thereby laying the groundwork for future human exploration. El PaÃs
Global Context
This development occurs amid similar announcements from China and SpaceX regarding Mars missions, highlighting the competitive landscape in space exploration. The evolving political dynamics in Washington and potential changes in NASA's leadership could influence the mission's direction. El PaÃs
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