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NASA is proposing a more cost-effective and faster method for returning Martian rocks and soil after its initial plan ballooned to a staggering $11 billion.
On Tuesday, Administrator Bill Nelson presented a revised strategy, just days before his departure as NASA’s chief with the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. Nelson explained that he had abandoned the original sample return plan several months ago due to the rising costs and the inability to return any samples from Mars before 2040.
In response, NASA sought alternative solutions from the industry and other stakeholders last year to secure the return of samples, which are stored in titanium tubes by the Perseverance rover, within the 2030s—well ahead of planned human missions to the planet.
“We want to return 30 titanium tubes as soon as possible at the cheapest price,” Nelson remarked.
The agency is currently considering two alternatives, both costing between $6 billion and $7 billion. One proposal includes innovative designs from commercial partners. While the number of spacecraft and launches would remain unchanged, NASA believes these new approaches will streamline the mission.
A final decision will be made next year, following detailed engineering studies. One option follows the traditional landing technique used by the Perseverance and Curiosity rovers, employing a rocket-powered sky crane. The other suggests a landing system developed by private companies, though specifics on this alternative remain scarce.
Since Perseverance’s landing in 2021, over two dozen samples have been collected, with further samples expected as part of NASA’s ongoing investigation for evidence of ancient microbial life. The goal is to analyse these samples from Mars’ dry river delta in Earth-based laboratories.
NASA emphasized that both alternatives would simplify the process by cleaning the sample tubes on Mars itself, rather than in the returning spacecraft, and by switching to nuclear power to withstand Martian dust storms.
Nelson noted that it would ultimately be up to the incoming administration to determine the best approach for retrieving the Martian samples, stressing the immediate need for funding. Trump has nominated tech billionaire Jared Isaacman, who has personally funded two spaceflights, to succeed Nelson.
Nelson concluded that their goal was to present the best possible options for the next administration to proceed with.
The post NASA’s New Strategy Aims for Quick, Affordable Mars Sample Return appeared first on Arise News.
