For decades, bringing samples from Mars back to Earth has been one of the most ambitious goals of space exploration. After recognizing that its initial plan was too long and expensive, NASA is proposing two new options to achieve this goal in the 2030s. These alternatives promise to be faster and less expensive while integrating innovative technologies.
The return of Martian samples: a major scientific and strategic issue
Bringing back samples from Mars is essential to better understanding the Red Planet. These Martian rocks and soils could indeed reveal clues about the geological history of the planet, its past environment, and the possibility that it once hosted forms of life. However, this project is not just a scientific question: it is also a strategic race. China plans a similar mission from 2028. This prospect fuels political and strategic pressure on American decision-makers to quickly and efficiently fund the NASA project.
Why rethink the initial plan?
The original plan, developed with the European Space Agency (ESA), called for a complex process that involved several steps:
- Sample collection by the Perseverance rover in Jezero Crater.
- Launching samples into Martian orbit aboard a small rocket (Mars Ascent Vehicle).
- Recovery of the samples by a Mars orbiter built by the ESA, followed by their return to Earth.
This mission would have lasted until 2040 and cost around eleven billion dollars. « This was simply unacceptable“said Bill Nelson, outgoing NASA administrator. To overcome these obstacles, NASA tapped its experts and the private space industry, including SpaceX and Blue Origin. Two new scenarios then emerged, each promising to reduce the cost and time required.
Two new options on the table for bringing back these samples
The first approach is inspired by the technology used to land the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers on Mars. A rocket-powered platform, nicknamed an aerial crane, would drop the necessary equipment directly onto the Martian surface. This solution would reuse proven technologies, but adapted to withstand the additional challenges posed by sample collection and return. The estimated cost is from 6.6 to 7.7 billion dollars.
The second option relies on heavy lifting capabilities developed by companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin. These companies offer launchers capable of transporting large and complex equipment directly to Mars. This method, estimated between $5.8 and $7.1 billiontakes advantage of recent advances in the private space sector to optimize costs and deadlines.
In both cases, significant adjustments would be made to the initial plan. For example, the Mars ascent vehicle would be more compact and the recovery platform would use a radioisotope thermoelectric generator, more reliable than solar panels.
Also note that ESA remains a key partner in this mission. The European agency is developing the orbiter which will bring the samples back to Earth. Currently, ESA is evaluating NASA’s proposed changes to ensure the entire system works harmoniously. This transatlantic cooperation is essential to meet the technological and logistical challenges of this ambitious project.
An ambitious, but flexible schedule
If all goes as planned, the first launches could take place as early as 2030 with samples delivered to Earth in 2035. However, Bill Nelson warned that this schedule would depend heavily on funding granted by the US Congress. At least $300 million more is needed for the current fiscal year to keep the project on track.
Another potential factor in delay is the desire expressed by Donald Trump, the newly re-elected president, to accelerate human missions to Mars. This could force NASA to adjust its priorities to incorporate this ambitious short-term goal.
