NASA unveils new approach to Mars Sample Return Programme

Involving 2 two landing architectures

NASA has unveiled a new strategy for its Mars Sample Return Programme. The US space agency will pursue two landing architectures concurrently to increase the likelihood of successfully returning the first Martian rock and sediment samples to Earth. This will foster competition and innovation while reducing costs and ensuring timely delivery.

After further analysis, NASA will ultimately select one of the two paths, with the final decision expected in the second half of 2026. This ambitious project aims to answer questions about Mars’ past, notably whether the planet once hosted life.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasised the potential benefits of pursuing multiple landing strategies. “These samples could transform our understanding of Mars, the universe, and ourselves. By pursuing two approaches, we can maximise cost and schedule savings compared to previous plans,” he stated.

In September 2024, NASA received 11 proposals from various sectors, including NASA teams and industry experts, on how best to return the Martian samples. A Mars Sample Return Strategic Review team then assessed these studies and provided recommendations for the primary architecture, factoring in costs and schedules.

Nicky Fox, head of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, outlined the significance of the mission, stating, “Mars Sample Return will offer insights into the planet’s geological history and climate evolution, potentially revealing whether life existed there in the past and providing clues about the early solar system.”

NASA will explore two distinct methods for landing on Mars as part of the formulation phase. The first will use the tried-and-tested sky crane method, previously used for Curiosity and Perseverance. The second will explore new commercial capabilities for deploying the lander. Both options will involve a smaller version of the Mars Ascent Vehicle, powered by a radioisotope system to endure Mars’ harsh conditions.

The mission also depends on ESA’s Earth Return Orbiter to capture the orbiting sample container. ESA is currently reviewing NASA’s plan.

Image: This image shows tubes containing samples from Mars, as collected by NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover. The agency’s Mars Sample Return Programme plans to bring these samples back to study them in state-of-the-art facilities on Earth. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS