This photomontage shows sample tubes on Mars. NASA wants to bring them to Earth. Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
NASA says it will use nuclear power to help bring Martian soil to Earth for study and is examining two landing options.
The US space agency expects to identify a preferred option in the second half of this year as they investigate whether the Red Planet ever hosted life.
“Pursuing two potential paths forward will ensure that NASA is able to bring these samples back from Mars with significant cost and schedule saving compared to the previous plan,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.
“These samples have the potential to change the way we understand Mars, our universe and, ultimately, ourselves.”
In September 2024, NASA accepted 11 options for bringing Martian samples to Earth which was assessed by a review team that also considered the cost and schedule for such a project.
“NASA’s rovers are enduring Mars’s harsh environment to collect ground-breaking science samples,” said Nicky Fox, who leads NASA’s Science Mission Directorate.
“We want to bring those back as quickly as possible to study them in state-of-the-art facilities.”
She says Martian rock and soil samples will help scientists understand the planet’s geological and climatic history.
“This will also prepare us to safely send the first human explorers to Mars.”
NASA will evaluate two ways of landing a payload vehicle on Mars; the proven entry-descent-landing system (the sky crane method) and the second will use new commercial vehicles to land on Mars.
For both potential options, the mission will involve a smaller version of the Mars Ascent Vehicle.
NASA says that, either way, solar panels will be replaced with nuclear power to provide power and heat through the dust storm season on Mars.
The orbiting sample container will hold 30 tubes containing samples that the Perseverance lander has already collected.
The sample loading system on the lander will be redesigned to eliminate Martian dust accumulating on the sample container.
Both mission options rely on the European Space Agency’s Earth Return Orbiter to capture the orbiting sample container in Mars orbit.
ESA is currently evaluating its plan, according to NASA.
