Spurs Competition And Innovation, Saving Cost And Scheduling

NASA announced a new strategy for its Mars Sample Return Program, intended to maximize the chances of successfully bringing back to Earth the first samples of Martian rock and sediment for the benefit of humankind (see photo).

The space agency has decided to now pursue two strategic plans for the Mars landings. This will encourage competition and stimulate innovation while also leading to cost savings and scheduling advantages.

NASA will eventually select one path for the program, which is designed to better understand the universe as well as determine whether Mars ever hosted life. NASA anticipates confirming the program’s design in the second half of 2026.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said, “Pursuing two potential paths forward will ensure that NASA is able bring these samples back from Mars with significant cost and schedule saving compared to the previous plan. These samples have the potential to change the way we understand Mars, our universe, and – ultimately – ourselves. I’d like to thank the team at NASA and the strategic review team, led by Dr. Maria Zuber, for their work.”

In September 2024 the agency accepted for review 11 studies from industry and the NASA community on how best to return Martian samples to Earth. The Mars Sample Return Strategic Review team was tasked with assessing the studies and recommending a primary architecture for the campaign including cost and schedule estimates.

Nicky Fox, head of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate said, “NASA’s rovers are enduring Mars’ harsh environment to collect ground-breaking science samples. We want to bring those back as quickly as possible to study them in state-of-the-art facilities. Mars Sample Return will allow scientists to understand the planet’s geological history and the evolution of climate on this barren planet where life may have existed in the past and shed light on the early solar system before life began here on Earth. This will also prepare us to safely send the first human explorers to Mars.”

FMI:  science.nasa.gov/