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NASA explores options for Mars rock retrieval as competition with China intensifies

sciencealert.com — January 8, 2025 at 01:01 AM UTC

NASA is exploring partnerships with SpaceX and Blue Origin to lower costs for its Mars Sample Return mission. The mission aims to bring back samples collected by the Perseverance rover, originally planned for the 2030s, but facing delays and rising expenses. NASA is considering two options for landing a robotic platform on Mars: the Sky Crane system or a heavy lift lander from a commercial partner. A decision is expected by mid-2026, with costs potentially reduced to between $5.8 billion and $7.1 billion. China is advancing its own simpler sample return mission, potentially achieving this by 2028. NASA's timeline for sample return is now between 2035 and 2039, compared to the original target of 2040.

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Timeline:

[5.4]

NASA updates Mars sample return mission plans and cuts costs (sltrib.com)

64d 2h

[5.3]

NASA cancels $11 billion Mars sample return plan and unveils new options (businessinsider.com)

64d 15h

[4.6]

NASA delays Mars Sample Return decision until new administration takes office (arstechnica.com)

64d 20h

[5.1]

NASA unveils new plan to return Mars samples at lower cost and faster pace (courant.com)

64d 20h

[4.7]

NASA to choose Mars sample return method by late 2026 after budget review (japanese.engadget.com)

65d 1h

[4.5]

NASA unveils new plan to reduce costs and time for Mars sample return mission (cnbctv18.com)

65d 8h

[4.7]

NASA unveils new plan to return Mars samples by 2030 under $7 billion budget (thehindu.com)

65d 10h

[4.6]

NASA delays Mars Sample Return decision to 2026 (astronomy.com)

65d 11h

[4.9]

NASA outlines cost-effective strategies for Mars sample return mission (aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org)

65d 12h

[5.2]

NASA updates Mars sample return plan to cut costs and complexity (nbcnews.com)

65d 12h

[4.6]

NASA unveils new plan to reduce costs and time for Mars sample return mission (triblive.com)

65d 15h

[4.5]

NASA explores options for Mars rock retrieval as competition with China intensifies (sciencealert.com)

65d 15h

[4.9]

NASA develops two plans to return Mars samples as costs rise (gizmodo.com)

65d 16h

[4.9]

NASA explores two methods for returning Mars samples over next 18 months (spacenews.com)

65d 17h

[5.0]

NASA unveils new plan to return Mars samples faster and cheaper (theglobeandmail.com)

65d 19h

[4.5]

NASA selects two options for revised Mars Sample Return mission (orlandosentinel.com)

65d 19h

[3.9]

NASA to reveal updates on Mars Sample Return mission plans (sciencealert.com)

66d 15h

[4.1]

NASA to update public on Mars Sample Return mission challenges tomorrow (iflscience.com)

66d 20h

[3.9]

NASA to update Mars Sample Return mission plans on January 7 (gizmodo.com)

67d 0h