NASA’s ambitious Mars Sample Return mission, which aimed to collect core rock samples from the Red Planet, is facing an uncertain future. The initial plan, set to return the samples to Earth for analysis, has been scrapped due to unrealistic budget and schedule expectations. In a last-ditch effort to save the mission, NASA invited private companies to submit their ideas.
However, when it came to choosing a solution, the agency ultimately decided to pass on implementing one of the options. The next administrator will likely be billionaire Jared Isaacman, who has expressed interest in space exploration and recently participated in the Polaris Dawn mission’s first private spacewalk.
The decision not to proceed with the sample return poses significant concerns about waste of resources and potential knowledge loss. Despite this setback, NASA continues its efforts to explore Mars, as seen in the Ingenuity helicopter’s successful flights on the Perseverance rover.
Source: https://boingboing.net/2025/01/16/nasa-leaves-mars-samples-in-limbo.html