MARS SAMPLE RETURN - SCI & TECH
News: NASA Mars sample return
program is expensive and will take too long
What's in the news?
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NASA's Mars sample return program has been deemed too
expensive while also taking too much time.
Key takeaways:
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The space agency is working with internal offices
to develop a new plan based on innovative and proven technology.
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It is also soliciting architectural proposals from
the industry to return samples in the 2030s along with lowering cost, risk and
mission complexity.
Mars Sample Return
Mission:
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It aims to deliver
material from the Martian surface to Earth.
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MSR would fulfill one of the highest priority solar
system exploration goals from the science community
NASA and ESA
Collaboration:
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Both NASA and the European Space Agency are working
together on it.
Transporting Samples for
Mars Ascent:
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ESA’s “fetch” rover is supposed to take the samples
collected by Perseverance and take them to a NASA-provided Mars ascent vehicle
which will then launch into Mars’s orbit.
Bringing Samples Back to
Earth:
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An Earth Return Orbiter will take these samples
from the ascent vehicle and bring
them back to Earth.
Significance:
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Returned samples would revolutionize our
understanding of Mars, our solar system and prepare for human explorers to the
Red Planet.
Go back to basics:
NASA's Perseverance
Rover:
Objective:
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To study
signs of ancient life, and collect samples of soils & rocks that can be
sent back to Earth for future missions.
Mission Duration:
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At least one Mars year (approximately 687 Earth
days)
Launched: July 30, 2020, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.