NASA accepted Rocket Lab’s proposal to use its vertically integrated technologies to retrieve rock samples from Mars for further research.
Today, NASA granted Rocket Lab a contract to investigate options for retrieving rock samples from Mars to bring them to Earth for scientific research. Rocket Lab, a global leader in launch services and space systems, will soon assist NASA with retrieving the samples from the surface of Mars.
NASA’s Mars Sample Return study is one of the most high-priority goals for solar system exploration. The sample of Mars rocks will help scientists trace the existence of any living form on the planet and will build a roadmap for the first-ever human explorers to land on Mars. Rocket Lab will assist NASA by bringing the rock samples collected by the Mars Perseverance rover from the surface of the Red Planet.
Mars Perseverance Rover
Rocket Lab Teams Up with NASA for Mars Sample Return
The team-up of Rocket Lab with the NASA study contract has revived the proposal of retrieving rock samples from Mars. Due to the unrealistic budget and schedule expectations, NASA started looking for other options to outsource efforts to safeguard its sample returns. In April, the organization asked for proposals from private companies that might offer faster, more cost-effective methods to retrieve the rock samples.
NASA awarded contracts to 10 proposals and funded 90 days of studies into their designs. As the studies have now concluded, Rocket Lab has been selected to continue with its proposal. Considering NASA’s decision to award the contract to expedite the retrieval process, Rocket Lab is expected to complete the mission before the expected date of 2040, with an affordable budget through its vertically integrated technologies.
Peter Beck, CEO and founder of Rocket Lab, stated, “Retrieving samples from Mars is one of the most ambitious and scientifically important endeavors humanity has ever embarked upon.” Beck also said that Rocket Lab has been systematically developing a strategy for affordable planetary science in recent years, positioning itself perfectly to provide a low-cost way to return the sample from Mars.
What is NASA’s Mars Sample Return Proposal?
NASA’s Mars Sample Return Proposal consists of several designs and study proposals to secure the rock samples collected by the Mars Perseverance Rover and bring them to Earth for scientific research. Originally, NASA planned to follow up on the Mars Perseverance Rover mission by early 2030 to retrieve the barrels containing dust, air, and atmospheric particles. The organization had hoped to find traces of any living support on the planet through the study of samples.
While the Perseverance rover navigates the surface of Mars, collecting rock samples, NASA’s sample return proposal in collaboration with the European Space Agency has encountered several challenges. Additionally, NASA’s Mars Sample Return Proposal had an unrealistic budget which spiraled from $7 billion to $11 billion. Following the cost-cutting measures, the timeline of 2030 to bring the samples was extended to 2040 which made NASA look for other options.
Rocket Lab now has a chance to help save the mission after receiving a contract from NASA to streamline the mission architecture and accelerate the timeline for recovering the samples.
