Space exploration has long been the domain of the great powers and the competition to bring samples from Mars back to Earth is no exception. As the US space agency (NASA) plans its own return of Martian samples in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), China appears determined to get ahead of its rivals.
Martian samples: American difficulties
NASA is working on an ambitious program with ESA. Initially planned for the 2030s, this project aims to rbring soil and rock samples from Mars to Earth. Scientists hope these samples will provide essential information about the planet’s geological history as well as clues to the possible existence of past life.
However, the American project is encountering delays mainly due to the technical complexity inherent to these missions. Collecting and transporting samples from Mars requires the development of several advanced and reliable technologies, each with its own challenges. This includes, for example, designing landers that can land safely on the Martian surface, collect soil and rock samples, and then store them in containers that protect them from the extreme conditions of space.
Additionally, it is essential to develop a launch system capable of returning these samples from the surface of Mars to orbit where they will then be transferred to a spacecraft en route to Earth. This process requires not only advanced propulsion technologies, but also precise navigation systems and efficient communication protocols to ensure that samples are collected, transported and sent on time.
For the moment, NASA and its European partners cannot agree on the structure of this mission which, to make matters worse, is extremely expensive.
China takes the lead
In this context, China has for its part intensified its efforts in the development of a similar mission, called Tianwen-3now planned for 2028. Liu Jizhong, the chief designer of this mission, recently announced that China would carry out two Long March-5 rocket launches to achieve this feat. The first machine will aim to transport the lander responsible for collecting samples on site before taking off from the Martian surface. The second launch will be responsible for delivering the return probe.
The country, which builds on the recent success of its Chang’e 5 and Chang’e 6 missions which brought lunar samples back to Earth, therefore appears more prepared for this project, and therefore more serene.
The United States’ reaction
Faced with this Chinese ambition, NASA is intensifying its efforts to ensure that its own program is carried out successfully. For example, a strategic evaluation group was set up to advise the agency on the steps to follow in order to respect a budget of eleven billion dollars. However, NASA’s delay in developing key technologies raises concerns about its ability to achieve this goal on time.
The uncertainty surrounding the US program is compounded by the need to collaborate with European partners. This could indeed further slow down the process, especially if strategic decisions are not taken quickly.
Return of samples: the implications of a successful first
The importance of the Mars sample return is heightened by its potential implications for the United States’ position as a leader in space exploration. This is not just a scientific question; THE political and geopolitical implications of China’s Tianwen-3 mission could redefine the landscape of space exploration for years to come.
Indeed, if China manages to bring back samples from Mars before NASA, it would represent not only a major technological feat, but also a major blow to the United States’ reputation on the international stage. As Scott Hubbard, the former director of NASA’s Mars program, says, such an achievement could be compared to a Sputnik moment. This term refers to the reaction of the United States after the launch of the Sputnik satellite by the Soviet Union in 1957 which marked the start of the space race and caused shock waves in the Western world.
Such a dynamic could then encourage the American government to reassess its priorities in financing and developing space technologies, while pushing for a strengthening of international partnerships and collaborations to maintain a competitive edge.
