$24 million per gram! Nasa's incredible search for Mars minerals
Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Mars Mission's Astronomical Cost
NASA's upcoming Mars sample return mission, scheduled for the early 2030s, is estimated to carry an astonishing price tag of up to $11 billion. This staggering cost equates to a remarkable $24 million per gram for potential Martian samples, which is five times the expense incurred for gathering materials from asteroid Bennu, according to a report by Associated Press.
Uniting NASA and ESA for Martian Exploration
NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) are collaborating to bring the first-ever Mars material samples back to Earth for in-depth examination. This interplanetary endeavour is expected to be launched in late 2027 or early 2028 and involves multiple components, including the Mars Perseverance rover and a Sample Retrieval Lander, to collect and cache samples on Mars.
The Mars Sample Retrieval Process
NASA's Mars Perseverance rover, which landed on Mars in 2021 had a primary mission to collect and store samples from the Martian surface. Now, according to NASA, a Sample Retrieval Lander would touch down near or within Jezero Crater, equipped with a rocket for transporting the samples collected by Perseverance. Two helicopters, similar to NASA's Ingenuity will play a key role in surface sample retrieval.
NASA's Mars Perseverance rover,
The Complex Journey Back to Earth
The Martian sample cache, once launched from the Red Planet, would be captured in Mars orbit by another spacecraft. This spacecraft will transport the samples safely and securely to Earth, with an expected arrival in the early to mid-2030s.
Seeking Answers About Martian Life
The collected and returned Martian samples have the potential to answer the pivotal question: Did life ever exist on Mars? By analysing these samples on Earth in state-of-the-art laboratories, future generations can employ yet-to-be-invented techniques to unveil the mysteries of the Red Planet.
Unprecedented Milestones
This ambitious mission is poised to achieve several significant milestones, including multiple vehicles landing simultaneously on Mars, the first launch from the surface of another planet, and the first in-orbit rendezvous at a foreign celestial body.
The Importance of Sample Selection
The samples collected from an ancient river delta will offer a unique opportunity to uncover the Red Planet's early evolution and the potential for ancient life.
Expert Oversight for Mission Success
Orlando Figueroa, a retired deputy center director for science and technology at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, has been appointed as the chair of an independent review board overseeing the mission. The board comprises experts in relevant scientific, technical, and programmatic fields.
High Scientific Priority for NASA
The most recent Planetary Science Decadal Survey conducted for NASA by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has identified Mars sample return as the highest scientific priority in the realm of robotic exploration. However, it emphasises that the mission's cost should not jeopardise the long-term programmatic balance of planetary exploration efforts.
A Long-Awaited Scientific Goal
The quest to return samples from Mars to Earth has been a cherished goal among planetary scientists for many decades. This upcoming mission promises to fulfil this aspiration and potentially reshape our understanding of the Red Planet.
