'SpaceX or Blue Origin?': China vs NASA in a billion-dollar battle for Mars samples
Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
Budget Woes
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 Race
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.
Representative pic
Lander Options
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.
Nuclear Power
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
Cost Savings
Revised plans estimate costs of $5.8–$7.7 billion, significantly lower than the original $11 billion projection, with delivery expected between 2035–2039.
Representative pic
Orbital Return
ESA’s Earth Return Orbiter will intercept samples launched by NASA’s lightweight Mars Ascent Vehicle, ensuring a safe journey back to Earth.
Complex Mission
NASA emphasizes the scientific rigor of its mission, contrasting it with China's more straightforward approach, which lacks comparable scope.
Credit: NASA
Symbolic Stakes
If China succeeds first, it would mark a major symbolic win, but NASA maintains its focus on advancing global scientific knowledge.
Representative pic
Martian Search
The Perseverance rover, key to this mission, continues to hunt for signs of ancient microbial life on Mars, exploring its warmer, wetter past.