Can NASA's troubled Mars Sample Return mission be saved?

Jan 4, 2025

NASA's Mars sample return mission faces budgetary and timeline challenges, while a strategic review seeks cost-saving solutions.

Can NASA's troubled Mars Sample Return mission be saved?

: NASA's Mars Sample Return mission, designed to bring Martian samples back to Earth, is experiencing budget and timeline issues, with costs reaching $11 billion and an expected return date of 2040. In light of these challenges, internal and external studies are being conducted to identify ways to reduce costs and expedite the mission. The MSR Strategy Review Team, led by Maria Zuber, is reviewing proposals from NASA and other entities to recommend a feasible architecture. Meanwhile, China prepares the Tianwen-3 mission to return Mars samples around 2031, adding urgency to NASA's efforts.

NASA's plan to return samples from Mars to Earth has hit significant obstacles related to budget constraints and scheduling, with the mission projected to cost more than $11 billion and deliver its results by 2040. In response, NASA, in partnership with the European Space Agency, is undergoing a series of studies to explore potential cost-cutting measures and ways to accelerate the timeline for the Mars Sample Return mission.

An independent committee known as the MSR Strategy Review Team, chaired by Maria Zuber, is tasked with evaluating these studies to offer NASA a streamlined mission architecture. Their comprehensive review process involves inputs from NASA centers, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, all aiming to refine the mission strategy for a more viable path forward.

Adding competitive pressure, China's Tianwen-3 mission seeks to bring Martian samples back by 2031. This intensifies the need for the United States to enhance its mission strategy, spurring discussions in forums like the Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group. The goal is to ensure scientifically valuable samples reach Earth, capitalizing on the meticulous selection by the Perseverance rover currently exploring Mars.