NASA is presenting a revised plan to bring back rocks and soil from Mars in a more cost-effective and timely manner. The original plan, with a budget of $11 billion, was scrapped due to escalating costs and the projected delay in receiving samples before 2040.
The new scenario, introduced by Administrator Bill Nelson, aims to return 30 titanium tubes from Mars at a reduced cost. The agency is exploring two options that would fall within the $6 billion to $7 billion range, with a focus on innovative designs by commercial partners to streamline the mission.
One of the proposed alternatives involves utilizing a landing system developed by private companies, while the other would employ a more traditional method similar to past rover missions. Both options prioritize cleaning the sample tubes on the Martian surface and transitioning to nuclear power to withstand dust storms.
Perseverance rover, which landed on Mars in 2021, has already collected over two dozen samples as part of NASA's quest to uncover evidence of ancient Martian life. Scientists are eager to analyze these samples in Earth-based laboratories.
A final decision on the retrieval plan is expected next year, following detailed engineering studies on each option. The incoming administration will have the responsibility of determining the best approach to bring back the Mars samples, with funding needed to kickstart the project immediately.
NASA's goal is to ensure the samples are returned in the 2030s, well ahead of planned manned missions to Mars. The agency is committed to finding a cost-effective solution that maintains the integrity of the mission and accelerates the timeline for sample return.
