Mars Sample Return Mission in Jeopardy as Perseverance Continues Extended Mission
 

The Geologists are n't very happy

https://explorer.aapg.org/story/arti...utm_source=1As reported in the December EXPLORER, the Independent Review Board report highlighted that the cost and complexity of the planned Mars Sample Return mission was not possible without simplification and cost cutting. They did underscore the importance of the mission. Members of IRB issued a joint statement reading, “A successful MSR campaign will revolutionize our understanding of the history of Mars, the solar system, and the potential for life beyond Earth.”

NASA must proceed with its initiative to bring back Martian samples, ensuring it doesn’t adversely affect other scientific pursuits within the space agency. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Associate Administrator Nicky Fox are calling for alternative mission architectures. “I have asked our folks to reach out with a request for information to industry, to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and to all NASA centers and to report back this fall an alternate plan that would get (the samples) back quicker and cheaper,” said Nelson at the April 15 press conference.

“We made the choice that, of those that were arguing that this program should be zeroed out, that this was too important to our country, that returning the samples from Mars remains an important operation,” he added.

On June 7, NASA announced seven ideas selected for simpler, less costly MSR proposed from Lockheed Martin, SpaceX, Aerojet, Blue Origin, Quantum Space, Northrop Grumman, and Whittinghill Aerospace for 90-day study fixed-price contracts. “I’m excited to see the vision that these companies, centers, and partners present,” said Nelson.

NASA’s Mars Sample Return is a strategic partnership with the European Space Agency. MSR will launch samples into Mars orbit and rendezvous with the ESA-developed Earth Return Orbiter.
Perseverance Sol 1162 (May 27, 2024) exploring in Neretva Vallis. Note the contrast between dark (probable basalt) cobbles and light light colored (probable anorthosite) boulder named Atoko Point. NASA/JPL/Caltech/ASU-S Atkinson image composite.
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Index map of Perseverance exploration operations as of July 10, 2024 (Sol 1204). The rover entered the fourth phase of its operations since it began the climb up from the Jezero delta front and entered the hydrated carbonate Margin Unit (dashed light blue) of Jezero Crater in mid-September 2023. Recent drill samples are indicated by number. Unless noted otherwise, all images are courtesy of NASA/JPL/Caltech.

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Perseverance mosaic Mount Washburn Sol 1162 May 27 2024 rock Atoko Pt PIA26333

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Mars exploration helicopter Ingenuity’s final resting place in Neretva Vallis imaged by Perseverance’s long range Mastcam-Z on Sol 1073 (Feb. 25, 2024). The image zoom inset shows that helicopter blades are missing from the final rough landing. Image courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech/LANL/CNES/IRAP-Simeon Schmauß.