NASA is exploring alternative options for retrieving samples from Mars after an independent review board deemed the budget and schedule for the sample return mission unrealistic.
During a recent meeting, NASA announced the formation of a response team to address findings from an independent review board report on the Mars Sample Return mission. The team aims to develop a revised architecture for the mission, taking into account technical, budgetary, and programmatic issues.
The independent review board’s final report referred to NASA’s Mars Sample Return mission as a “highly constrained and challenging campaign” with unrealistic budget and schedule expectations. The mission involves a group of robots, landers, and orbiters working on and off Mars to collect and retrieve samples.
NASA has been struggling to manage the budget and meet the schedule for the mission. The report stated that the probability of the lander and orbiter being ready for launch in 2028 is close to zero. The mission’s full lifecycle cost is estimated to be between $8 billion and $11 billion.
To stay on track, NASA has requested additional funding of $250 million in the current fiscal year and another $250 million in 2024. Despite the challenges, NASA is committed to the Mars Sample Return mission and aims to reduce costs and increase resilience.
The response team will develop alternative architectures for the mission by March 2024 and make formal cost and schedule commitments once a new architecture is selected. One option is to launch the lander and orbiter on separate dates, while another suggestion is to involve the European Space Agency in the orbit responsibilities.
Jeff Gramling, MSR director at NASA, suggests reducing the quantity of samples returned from Mars to reduce cost and complexity. Despite the challenges, the mission is considered important for revolutionizing our understanding of Mars, the Solar System, and the potential for life beyond Earth.
NASA is committed to the Mars Sample Return mission while also ensuring it doesn’t hinder other scientific endeavors. Stay updated on spaceflight news by following us on Twitter and visiting Gizmodo’s dedicated Spaceflight page.
