NASA Looks To Commercial Partners For Mars Sample Return Mission Alternatives

NASA has opened the doors for innovative proposals aimed at redefining its Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission. Following the agency's recent revelation that the current plan, with its projected $11 billion price tag and 2040 timeline, is deemed unacceptable, NASA is now actively seeking cost-effective and time-efficient alternatives.

In an official statement released on April 16, NASA announced its call for "Rapid Mission Design Studies for Mars Sample Return." 

This call comes on the heels of the agency's acknowledgment of the need to explore avenues for reducing costs and accelerating the return of Martian samples. The original plan had aimed to bring back a substantial number of samples, but the agency is now open to proposals that could return as few as 10 sample tubes, a significant departure from the initial blueprint.

NASA's call for proposals invites innovative ideas that could streamline the process of returning samples collected by the Perseverance rover. These proposals are expected to leverage existing elements of the MSR architecture while potentially incorporating components from other NASA programs, such as the Artemis initiative, including the Space Launch System (SLS), alongside novel capabilities.

However, any proposed mission design must adhere to two critical requirements. 

Firstly, it must meet stringent planetary protection protocols to prevent any potential contamination of Earth by Martian samples. 

Secondly, the alternative architectures must ensure the return of at least 10 samples collected by Perseverance, whether from the rover itself or from a cache of sample tubes left behind on the Martian surface.

The decision to consider proposals returning as few as 10 samples has raised concerns among some scientists. They argue that such a reduced number would significantly diminish the scientific yield of the mission. Nevertheless, NASA maintains that the 10-sample threshold is scientifically justifiable if it substantially reduces costs and expedites the mission timeline.

Addressing concerns raised by an independent review board, NASA acknowledges that while a full set of 30 samples is preferred, the cache of 10 samples at the "Three Forks" depot remains scientifically valuable and worthy of return. Furthermore, samples currently onboard Perseverance are deemed of greater scientific significance than those at the depot.

In evaluating alternative architectures for MSR, NASA emphasizes the importance of maximizing scientific value while minimizing costs and complexity. Proposals are expected to prioritize the prompt return of samples and demonstrate reductions in both total cost and peak annual funding.

The agency has set a deadline of May 17 for the submission of mission study proposals, with multiple awards of up to $1.5 million each anticipated. 

Final reports from selected proposals are due in October, following which NASA will utilize the findings to inform its strategy for overhauling the MSR program.

Despite the call for proposals, NASA has clarified that MSR will not transition to a competed mission model akin to its Discovery and New Frontiers programs. Instead, the agency will assess the proposed alternative architectures and chart a path forward based on the received studies.

"We would not be doing it in the New Frontiers model…At this point, we are looking for different ways to do the architecture. We will evaluate that and then chart a path forward following the receipt of those different studies." - " Nicola Fox, NASA's Associate Administrator For Science.

The future of the Mars Sample Return program now rests on the innovative proposals set to emerge in response to NASA's call, with the potential to reshape the trajectory of Martian exploration.