NASA wants a Mars sample return by 2026

[insert_name]

NASA thinks they will be able to do a Martian sample return by 2026. Unfortunately this is because they are worried about the relay orbiters running out of fuel.

https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/08/28/nasa-studies-mission-to-return-samples-from-mars-by-end-of-2020s/

[YNM]

Wait... I thought the 2020 rover is going to do sample return as well ?

Also, they could just send more orbiters...

[SaturnianBlue]

48 minutes ago, YNM said:

Wait... I thought the 2020 rover is going to do sample return as well ?

Also, they could just send more orbiters...

The Mars 2020 rover is there to pick up the samples for the sample return mission—it won't actually be returning the samples. 

As for the orbiter, they are planning to—$62 million for a new one is provided in the 2018 budget, though it seems like by the time it gets launched, the other orbiters might already be defunct.

Edited August 29, 2017 by SaturnianBlue

[Ultimate Steve]

Two things:

1. YAY! SPACE EXPLORATION POSSIBILITIES! ROCKETS ARE COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!!!!!!!!!

2. For NASA's sake, I do hope they can pull this off, but if it gets delayed by more than a few years, then we may (optimistically) be really close to actually sending people there, so an unmanned sample return mission is kind of pointless when you can have actual people on site (who can bring home way more samples than a small unmanned rocket) within a few years from then. Still, even if it is 2030 or something and 99% of the money has already been spent, I'd say fly it even if we already have people on Mars.

 

[WinkAllKerb'']

i think: better sooner than (too) later

also there's prolly (at least but prolly more) someone else who think like that ... no idea who

Edited August 29, 2017 by WinkAllKerb''