The US may be giving up its lead in the Mars exploration race by ending funding for a key mission. The White House has proposed cutting funding for the Martian sample return programme in its 2026 budget, which could delay or even cancel the project. This move has experts worried, as it would undermine US cooperation with international partners and give China an opportunity to take over.
The programme, which is currently behind schedule due to cost overruns and delays, aims to bring back samples from Mars via a joint effort between NASA and the European Space Agency. The team has made significant progress collecting samples since 2021 using the Perseverance rover.
If the US pulls out, its international partners may reconsider their cooperation with the country. China is seen as a major threat in this regard, with ambitious plans to return Martian samples and send humans to the moon. This could weaken US leadership in space exploration and give China a chance to take over.
Source: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3306742/will-us-hand-space-leadership-china-pulling-nasa-out-mars-race