Mars Sample Return: NASA Tackles Cost and Timeline Hurdles

NASA’s Mars Sample Return mission, initially set for a 2026 launch with a $5.3B price tag, now faces a 2035 liftoff and costs soaring to $11B. On Jan 7, 2025, Admin Bill Nelson and Nicky Fox will announce cost-cutting strategies and mission tweaks, including a single radioisotope-powered lander. Collaborating with ESA, NASA aims for a 2040 sample return despite management challenges. Meanwhile, Perseverance patiently awaits its Earth-bound Martian treasures.