Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

The ripple effect of the recent independent assessment of the multi-billion dollar NASA Mars Sample Return (MSR) effort includes a just-issued open letter to the Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG) community – a top-level advisory group to NASA.

“We know many in the community are worried NASA will abandon MSR after 40 years of driving consistently towards it,” the letter states.

“Conversely, many others may understand the value of MSR but are worried that there will be no immediate benefit for any other Mars science,” the MEPAG letter adds.

The Mars Sample Return campaign makes use of a set of machines, including use of helicopters, to collect Martian soil, rock and atmospheric specimens for return to Earth.
Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Potential impacts

For now, the letter continues, “it is worth reiterating the science value of MSR and MEPAG’s consistent support for it, even as we acknowledge community concerns about potential impacts of the mission on other Mars and planetary science priorities.”

Meanwhile, the MEPAG community is set to discuss the MSR independent report and NASA’s preliminary response to it at a public meeting scheduled for October 13^th.

Once on Earth, Mars specimens will make their way to a sample receiving facility.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Major concerns

That Independent Review Board (IRB) churned out a number of “key takeaways” that have spotlighted major concerns with the MSR endeavor, such as:

1)

The strategic and high scientific value of Mars Sample Return (MSR) is not being communicated appropriately.

2)

MSR was established with unrealistic budget and schedule expectations from the beginning. MSR was also organized under an unwieldy structure. As a result, there is currently no credible, congruent technical, nor properly margined schedule, cost, and technical baseline that can be accomplished with the likely available funding.

3)

Technical issues, risks, and performance-to-date indicate a near zero probability of key MSR elements to meet the 2027/2028 launch readiness dates.

4)

A 2030 Launch Readiness Date for both the Sample Retrieval Lander (SRL) and the Earth Return Orbiter (ERO) is estimated to require roughly $8.0-$9.6 billion dollars, with funding in excess of $1 billion per year to be required for three or more years starting in 2025.

5)

The projected overall budget for MSR in the FY24 President’s Budget Request is not adequate to accomplish the current program of record.

6)

The lack of a well-defined Orbiting Sample design continues to impact and constrain many MSR systems, with implications that affect UltraViolet (UV) decontamination and robust containment for backward planetary protection.

To access the full report by the Independent Review Board and its findings, go to:

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/mars_sample_return_independent_review_board_report.pdf