Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
NASA's Mars Sample Return mission faces rising costs, prompting a pivot to SpaceX, Blue Origin, or others for cost-efficient solutions to bring Martian rocks to Earth.
China’s simpler "grab-and-go" mission, targeting a 2028 launch, could return Mars samples years ahead of NASA, adding urgency to the U.S. effort.
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NASA considers two options for the Mars lander: the proven Sky Crane system or a heavy-lift lander from a commercial partner like SpaceX or Blue Origin.
To combat Mars’s dust storms, NASA plans to use a nuclear battery for energy and heat, moving away from vulnerable solar panels.
Credit: NASA
Revised plans estimate costs of $5.8–$7.7 billion, significantly lower than the original $11 billion projection, with delivery expected between 2035–2039.
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ESA’s Earth Return Orbiter will intercept samples launched by NASA’s lightweight Mars Ascent Vehicle, ensuring a safe journey back to Earth.
NASA emphasizes the scientific rigor of its mission, contrasting it with China's more straightforward approach, which lacks comparable scope.
Credit: NASA
If China succeeds first, it would mark a major symbolic win, but NASA maintains its focus on advancing global scientific knowledge.
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The Perseverance rover, key to this mission, continues to hunt for signs of ancient microbial life on Mars, exploring its warmer, wetter past.