NASA is proposing a cheaper and quicker way to retrieve rocks and soil samples from Mars, with two options in the $6 billion to $7 billion range. The current plan, which was expected to cost $11 billion, has been revised after soaring costs and delays.
Administrator Bill Nelson presented the new proposal just days before stepping down as NASA’s chief. He wants to return 30 titanium tubes containing samples collected by the Perseverance rover to Earth in the 2030s. The mission would simplify the process by cleaning the sample tubes on Mars’ surface, rather than in the spacecraft.
Two options are being considered: one using a traditional sky crane landing method and another with a private company-developed landing system. Engineers will conduct further studies before making a final decision next year. The incoming administration will ultimately decide how to proceed with the mission.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/nasa-mars-sample-return-6b6028cd2866f41f39864717f70e979d