Mars Sample Return

Foust Forward | Who gets the final word on Mars Sample Return?

The timeline for NASA’s MSR assessment means that a decision might be made just before the Trump administration takes office. While the incoming administration has said nothing about MSR specifically, it’s likely they will, at the very least, review any decision made by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson in what are likely his final weeks on the job.

Radical changes to the program could be on the table. A program that is years behind schedule and billions of dollars over its initial cost projections could become a target for a Trump administration focused on slashing government spending. On the other hand, canceling MSR would open the door for China to become the first nation to return samples from Mars, dealing a blow to American leadership in space exploration.

Alternatively, MSR could be overtaken by events. Elon Musk has discussed sending Starships to Mars as soon as 2026. With Musk in Trump’s inner circle, he could make the case for using Starships to return samples faster and cheaper than conventional approaches. SpaceX is among the companies that participated in the MSR studies, but has shared no details about its proposal, other than indicating it would rely on Starship.
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Let's wait and see what happens when the new Trump administration enters office, NASA needs a new administrator pronto for the Mars Sample Return mission to get of the ground.
 
Falcon Heavy enough?

Starship as a whole too big to sterilize easily...JPL may not like that.
 
FighterJock said:
Let's wait and see what happens when the new Trump administration enters office, NASA needs a new administrator pronto for the Mars Sample Return mission to get of the ground.
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I wonder if we will see a return of Jim Bridenstine as NASA administrator?
 
So will Jared Isaacman be pro sample return or against it GTX? I suppose that it will be interesting to see what happens when the new administration enters office.
 
He *might* allow one more flight of SLS (heck, even Paul Allen's sister wasn't that mean)--but MSR looks as dead as my states chance of passing a lottery bill.

Maybe--maybe...MSR supporters could endure the oncoming storm by siding with pro-SLS forces...they would fall independently. otherwise and even after a shotgun wedding things still don't look good.

The planetary protection Faucis will scream--but Starship is coming--an SLS/FH launched craft would be simpler to clean.

America doesn't need Marshall to launch probes--but with NewSpace, America may not need a JPL to build them either.

Hey Pasadena! We have an old saying in the South:

"Dance with them that bring ya."

Now we're both out in the cold.
I have cancer--so my dancing days are purt' near over, anyway.

What killed Old Space wasn't Elon--it was infighting--failure of vested interests to get along.

And it isn't just in spaceflight...
 
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What about a joint ESA/NASA mission to save on costs? I would rather see that than the mission getting cancled outright.
 
ESA makes the service module for Orion, right? They are going to try to save that--besides, it was part of ARM as I recall --and MSR might need it similarly

MSR/Artemis have to join forces.

The human vs. robotic infighting has weakened both to the point of cancellation--and now Elon has put his wedge in the crack and Trump to hammer it home.

To me, this all goes back to Europa Clipper...which was the equivalent of you picking up a hitchhiker to be nice, only for him to be repo man who tows your new car off after a hospital stay lays you up. Trying to do the right thing backfires--and no good deed goes unpunished.

That's a bad feeling, trust me.
 
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publiusr said:
MSR/Artemis have to join forces.

The human vs. robotic infighting has weakened both to the point of cancellation--and now Elon has put his wedge in the crack and Trump to hammer it home.
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that would be wrong. they are unrelated and different budgets
publiusr said:
The human vs. robotic infighting has weakened both to the point of cancellation-
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What "infighting'? proof please.

publiusr said:
and now Elon has put his wedge in the crack and Trump to hammer it home.
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What "wedge'? proof please.
publiusr said:
To me, this all goes back to Europa Clipper...which was the equivalent of you picking up a hitchhiker to be nice, only for him to be repo man who tows your new car off after a hospital stay lays you up. Trying to do the right thing backfires--and no good deed goes unpunished.
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Huh? The problem was Europa Clipper shouldn't have been on SLS in first place.

So, the correct analogy is the equivalent of being forced to ride on oversized expensive off-roader with a rough ride. And it is going to pick you up late. And then jumping on to an opportunity to take a cheaper, more reliable SUV with a smooth ride that will get you there but just a little later. And the funny thing is that taking the longer way there is also cheaper than leaving later with shorter ride. (Prelaunch manpower costs are higher than operations teams costs).

publiusr said:
That's a bad feeling, trust me.
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Why should we? You have been consistently wrong about current and historic events with your offbase interpretations.
 
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Anyway here is the two propose Chinese Mars sample return mission timeline in case anyone want comparison.


Liu Jizhong, chief designer of Tianwen-3, shared plans for consecutive launches using Long March 5 rockets. Mission may launch components in Nov-Dec 2028, land on Mars in Aug-Sep 2029, and return samples by July 2031. Source:https://m.weibo.cn/status/OvT9Wto3Y
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Plan 1

Mars Orbiter/Returner launch on Long March 5 in November of 2028
Lander/Ascender launch on Long March 5 in December 2028
Orbiter/Returner arrive in Mars orbit in August 2029
Lander make landing on Mars in August or September 2029
Ascender took off with sample around February-March 2030
Returner return to Earth in October or November 2030, and arrive on Earth in July 2031

Plan 2
Lander/Ascender Launch on Long March 5 in May 2028
Mars Orbiter/Returner Launch on Long March 5 in November 2028
Orbiter/Returner arrive in Mars orbit in September 2029
Lander make landing in July 2030
Ascender took off in October 2030
Returner make it way back in November 2030 arriving on Earth in July 2031
 

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