It seems that the decision regarding the plan to bring Martian rocks to Earth will be finalized during Donald Trump’s presidency. Earlier this month, outgoing NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and other agency officials presented two potential plans for the Mars Sample Return mission to be considered by the incoming administration next year. When Trump assumes office, his chosen leader for the agency, likely billionaire entrepreneur and private astronaut Jared Isaacman, will play a significant role in making the ultimate decision.
While robotic missions have successfully brought back samples from the moon and asteroids, a successful Mars mission would be groundbreaking as it would be the first time rocks from another planet are returned to Earth. Scientists are eager to study these samples to gain insights into Mars’ geological history, including the possibility of past life on the planet.
Nicola Fox, associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, emphasized the importance of retrieving the Martian samples quickly for analysis in advanced facilities. The Mars rock samples collected by NASA’s Perseverance rover in the Jezero Crater are considered valuable for potential discoveries about Mars’ ancient past and possible signs of life.
The Perseverance rover has been diligently collecting rock samples since its arrival on Mars in February 2021 after a 200-day journey. These samples are stored in a depot on Mars for future retrieval by NASA and the European Space Agency. The Jezero Crater, formed 3.9 billion years ago, is a key area for searching for evidence of ancient life on Mars.
NASA has been exploring two options to bring back the Martian rocks, aiming to ensure the samples are studied in state-of-the-art facilities on Earth. The importance of these pristine samples in advancing our understanding of Mars, the universe, and ourselves has been emphasized by NASA officials.
NASA has revealed two mission plans aimed at reducing costs to an estimated range of $6 to $7 billion. Agency officials view these plans as the most promising options for ensuring that samples from Mars reach Earth well before manned missions to the red planet. One of the proposals involves utilizing the sky crane system, a method previously employed to lower the Perseverance and Curiosity rovers onto the Martian surface via a hovering rocket and cable. The alternative plan entails incorporating a landing system developed by private companies.
Both plans outline a consistent number of spacecraft and launches, with the European Space Agency’s orbiter designated to retrieve the Martian rocks. NASA underscored that these proposed strategies would streamline the overall mission. A final decision is expected in the latter half of 2026, subsequent to detailed engineering assessments of each plan.
NASA Administrator Nelson emphasized the significance of pursuing two potential trajectories to enhance cost-efficiency and adhere to the timeline for bringing back the Mars samples.
As for the Perseverance rover, its quest for Martian rocks continues beyond the Jezero crater. In December, Perseverance successfully reached the summit of the crater after spending years navigating its rugged terrain. The rover’s right-front navigation camera captured its initial view over the Jezero Crater rim on December 10, 2024, marking a pivotal moment in its mission.
The ascent to the crater’s peak commenced in August 2024 and spanned over three months, overcoming numerous challenges along the way. Perseverance’s journey to the rim provided valuable insights and opportunities for exploration as it paused to survey its surroundings.
Upon reaching the rim, the rover faces a quarter-mile drive to an area rich in light-toned, layered bedrock based on orbital data. Over the next year, Perseverance aims to visit up to four sites within a four-mile span along the northern section of Jezero’s southwestern rim to collect samples. The initial phase focused on locating rocks believed to have accumulated in the crater’s formation, while the upcoming phase will target rocks originating from deep within Mars, propelled upward during the crater-forming impact to shape the rim.
The rover’s progression signifies a significant milestone in NASA’s Mars exploration mission, highlighting Perseverance’s ongoing scientific endeavors to uncover the red planet’s geological history and potential for past habitability.
Eric Lagatta is a journalist covering breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. For inquiries, contact him at elagatta@gannett.com.
This article was originally published on USA TODAY: “Mars Rock Sample Return: NASA Proposes 2 Plans for Trump to Consider.”
