NASA seeks cheaper options for Mars Sample Return mission
- NASA announced a revision of its Mars Sample Return mission plans due to increasing costs.
- Two options are being explored: the sky crane landing method and a commercial mass delivery system.
- Both methods aim to significantly reduce costs and return samples to Earth by 2035 to 2029.
NASA, in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), is currently revising its plans for the Mars Sample Return mission due to rising costs and prolonged wait times for sample retrieval. Initially estimated to cost between $8 billion and $11 billion with a projected return date around 2040, these figures were deemed unacceptable by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. In a press conference held in January 2025, Nelson detailed two new strategies aimed at reducing costs and simplifying the mission process. The first proposed method is the 'sky crane' landing approach which utilizes both a heat shield and parachute for initial descent. This method has been successfully employed in previous missions, including Perseverance and Curiosity. The second option is to partner with commercial providers such as SpaceX or Blue Origin to create a mass delivery system for landing on Mars. Nelson asserted that both options present a more efficient and cost-effective alternative when compared to the mission's original plan. The sky crane method is projected to cost between $6.6 billion and $7.7 billion, while the commercial option anticipates costs ranging from $5.8 billion to $7.1 billion. A timeline for returning samples has also been established, with both strategies expected to facilitate their retrieval between 2035 and 2029. Both landing options aim to improve efficiency by allowing Martian dust to be cleaned from the sample tubes before transferring them to the Sample Retrieval Lander using a spare arm from the Perseverance rover. Perseverance, which has been operational since its landing in February 2021, is collecting geological samples that will be crucial for understanding Mars' history and climate. By the mission's conclusion, it is expected to have gathered around 30 samples sealed in specialized titanium tubes. The final collectible phase will involve launching the Sample Retrieval Lander, equipped with a rocket and helicopters, to facilitate sample retrieval. The expensive endeavor aims at gathering critical information on whether life ever existed on Mars and for the future generations to analyze using yet-to-be-invented techniques.