NASA’s Mars Sample Return program is facing delays and uncertainty, with agency officials predicting it may remain stuck until at least 2026. The joint effort between NASA and the European Space Agency has been years in the making and is seen as a crucial step towards human missions to Mars.
The program’s opening phase is already underway, with NASA’s Perseverance rover collecting samples from ancient lake beds and river deltas on Mars. Scientists believe analyzing these materials could revolutionize our understanding of the solar system’s early history and potentially reveal the first evidence of extraterrestrial life.
Originally planned to launch in 2027-2028, the program now faces a series of challenges that have pushed its timeline back. A new lander was scheduled to meet Perseverance on Mars and transfer samples to an Earth Return Orbiter, but this plan is no longer on track. The future of the program remains uncertain, leaving scientists and engineers scrambling to find a solution.
Source: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-fate-of-nasas-mars-sample-return-program-may-be-decided-in-2026