Mars Sample Return Mission
Encyclopedia
A Mars sample return mission (MSR) would be a spaceflight
mission to collect rock and dust samples from Mars
and to return them
to Earth
for analysis. One particular proposal, a joint project between NASA
and ESA, would launch in 2018 with the sample return itself expected in the 2020-2022 time frame.
According to Louis Friedman
, Executive Director of The Planetary Society, Mars sample return is often described by the planetary science community as the "holy grail" of robotic space missions, due to its high expected scientific return-on-investment.
In mid-2006, the international Mars Architecture for the Return of Samples (iMARS) Working Group was chartered by the International Mars Exploration Working Group
(IMEWG) to outline the scientific and engineering requirements of an internationally sponsored and executed Mars sample return mission in the 2018–2023 time frame.
In October 2009, NASA
and ESA established the Mars Joint Exploration Initiative, whose ultimate aim is "the return of samples from Mars in the 2020's".
and the US EELV are available. Future heavy-lift launch vehicles are currently planned that would provide greater capabilities.
, a consensus is now forming for a sample return mission split into a total of three launches. In this scenario, the sample-collection rover (e.g. MAX-C
) would be launched separately first - preferably in 2018 - land on Mars, and carry out analyses and sample collection over a lifetime of at least 500 Sols (Martian days).
Four years later, the orbiter would be launched, followed by the lander (including the MAV). Instead of a full-blown sample-collection rover, the lander would bring a smaller, simpler "fetch rover", whose sole function would be to retrieve the sample container from the sample-collection rover, and return it to the lander where it would be loaded onto the MAV. The rest of the mission would follow in the same way as the two-element mission design.
This design eases the schedule of the whole program greatly, giving controllers time to carry out all operations in a sound and scientifically well-designed manner. Furthermore, by spreading the landed mass across two payloads (the sample-collection rover and the lander), the program can rely on the landing system that already has been developed for Mars Science Laboratory
, avoiding the costs and risks associated with developing yet another landing system from scratch.
In 2006, MEPAG identified 55 important future science investigations related to the exploration of Mars. In 2008, they concluded that about half
of the investigations "could be addressed to one degree or another by MSR", making MSR "the single mission that would make the most progress towards the entire list" of investigations. Moreover, it was found that a significant fraction of the investigations cannot be meaningfully advanced without returned samples.
Spaceflight
Spaceflight is the act of travelling into or through outer space. Spaceflight can occur with spacecraft which may, or may not, have humans on board. Examples of human spaceflight include the Russian Soyuz program, the U.S. Space shuttle program, as well as the ongoing International Space Station...
mission to collect rock and dust samples from Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
and to return them
Sample return mission
A sample return mission is a spacecraft mission with the goal of returning tangible samples from an extraterrestrial location to Earth for analysis. Sample return missions may bring back merely atoms and molecules or a deposit of complex compounds such as dirt and rocks...
to Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
for analysis. One particular proposal, a joint project between NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
and ESA, would launch in 2018 with the sample return itself expected in the 2020-2022 time frame.
According to Louis Friedman
Louis Friedman
Louis Friedman is an American astronautics engineer and space spokesperson. He was born in New York and raised in the Bronx. Dr. Friedman was a co-founder of The Planetary Society with Carl Sagan and Bruce C. Murray.-Education and career:...
, Executive Director of The Planetary Society, Mars sample return is often described by the planetary science community as the "holy grail" of robotic space missions, due to its high expected scientific return-on-investment.
History
For three decades, scientists have advocated the return of geological samples from Mars. A mission was originally planned to return samples by 2008, but was canceled following a review of the program.In mid-2006, the international Mars Architecture for the Return of Samples (iMARS) Working Group was chartered by the International Mars Exploration Working Group
International Mars Exploration Working Group
The International Mars Exploration Working Group is an organization of all major space agencies and institutions participating in the exploration of the planet Mars. Conceived in 1993, the working group meets twice a year to discuss an international strategy for the exploration of Mars....
(IMEWG) to outline the scientific and engineering requirements of an internationally sponsored and executed Mars sample return mission in the 2018–2023 time frame.
In October 2009, NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
and ESA established the Mars Joint Exploration Initiative, whose ultimate aim is "the return of samples from Mars in the 2020's".
Proposed mission profile
The scenario of the joint NASA/ESA mission will depend on the date of launch and performance of the launcher. Before 2018, only launchers such as Ariane 5Ariane 5
Ariane 5 is, as a part of Ariane rocket family, an expendable launch system used to deliver payloads into geostationary transfer orbit or low Earth orbit . Ariane 5 rockets are manufactured under the authority of the European Space Agency and the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales...
and the US EELV are available. Future heavy-lift launch vehicles are currently planned that would provide greater capabilities.
Two-element architecture
In this scenario, the sample return mission would span two launches at an interval of about four years. The first launch would be for the orbiter, the second for the lander. The rest of the mission would follow in the same way as the one-element mission design.Three-element architecture
According to JPL's Mars Exploration Program manager Fuk LiFuk Li
Fuk K. Li is the Director of the Mars Exploration Directorate at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.Dr. Li’s directorate is responsible for JPL’s projects exploring Mars, including two orbiters , two famous rovers , the Phoenix stationary laboratory which landed near the north pole of Mars in 2008,...
, a consensus is now forming for a sample return mission split into a total of three launches. In this scenario, the sample-collection rover (e.g. MAX-C
Mars Astrobiology Explorer-Cacher
The Mars Astrobiology Explorer-Cacher was a NASA concept for a Mars rover mission, proposed to be launched in 2018 together with the European ExoMars rover...
) would be launched separately first - preferably in 2018 - land on Mars, and carry out analyses and sample collection over a lifetime of at least 500 Sols (Martian days).
Four years later, the orbiter would be launched, followed by the lander (including the MAV). Instead of a full-blown sample-collection rover, the lander would bring a smaller, simpler "fetch rover", whose sole function would be to retrieve the sample container from the sample-collection rover, and return it to the lander where it would be loaded onto the MAV. The rest of the mission would follow in the same way as the two-element mission design.
This design eases the schedule of the whole program greatly, giving controllers time to carry out all operations in a sound and scientifically well-designed manner. Furthermore, by spreading the landed mass across two payloads (the sample-collection rover and the lander), the program can rely on the landing system that already has been developed for Mars Science Laboratory
Mars Science Laboratory
The Mars Science Laboratory is a National Aeronautics and Space Administration mission with the aim to land and operate a rover named Curiosity on the surface of Mars. The MSL was launched November 26, 2011, at 10:02 EST and is scheduled to land on Mars at Gale Crater between August 6 and 20, 2012...
, avoiding the costs and risks associated with developing yet another landing system from scratch.
Scientific value
The return of Mars samples would be beneficial to science by allowing more extensive analysis to be undertaken of the samples than could be done by instruments painstakingly transferred to Mars. Also, the presence of the samples on Earth would allow scientific equipment to be used on stored samples, even years and decades after the sample return mission.In 2006, MEPAG identified 55 important future science investigations related to the exploration of Mars. In 2008, they concluded that about half
of the investigations "could be addressed to one degree or another by MSR", making MSR "the single mission that would make the most progress towards the entire list" of investigations. Moreover, it was found that a significant fraction of the investigations cannot be meaningfully advanced without returned samples.
See also
- Mars Astrobiology Explorer-CacherMars Astrobiology Explorer-CacherThe Mars Astrobiology Explorer-Cacher was a NASA concept for a Mars rover mission, proposed to be launched in 2018 together with the European ExoMars rover...
- Mars meteoriteMars meteoriteA martian meteorite is a rock that formed on the planet Mars, was ejected from Mars by the impact of an asteroid or comet, and landed on the Earth. Of over 53000 meteorites that have been found on Earth, 99 are martian...
- Comparison of embedded computer systems on board the Mars roversComparison of embedded computer systems on board the Mars roversThe embedded computer systems that are on board the various Mars rovers sent to Mars by NASA have to withstand the high radiation levels and large temperature changes in space and for this reason their computational resources are limited compared to current computer systems commonly used on...
- Phobos-GruntPhobos-GruntFobos-Grunt or Phobos-Grunt was an attempted Russian sample return mission to Phobos, one of the moons of Mars. It was launched on 9 November 2011 at 02:16 local time from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, but subsequent rocket burns intended to set the craft on a course for Mars failed, leaving it...
- a Russian sample return mission destined for PhobosPhobos (moon)Phobos is the larger and closer of the two natural satellites of Mars. Both moons were discovered in 1877. With a mean radius of , Phobos is 7.24 times as massive as Deimos...
, a Martian moon