Location: Washington, D.C. Date: October 8, 2024
NASA has awarded a contract to Rocket Lab to explore alternative concepts for the Mars Sample Return (MSR) program, aiming to significantly reduce costs and accelerate timelines. The contract, valued at $625,000, is part of NASA's initiative to improve the projected $11 billion MSR mission, which is currently scheduled for completion by 2040.
Rocket Lab's proposal focuses on a simplified mission architecture that could potentially deliver samples collected by the Perseverance rover to Earth for under $2 billion, with a targeted launch window as early as 2028 and sample return by September 2033, or possibly even earlier.
The MSR program involves launching a Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) to transport samples from the surface of Mars to orbit, where they will be collected by an Earth Return Orbiter (ERO). Rocket Lab's approach includes two launches of its Neutron rocket, one for the ERO and another for the MAV, which will rendezvous with the Perseverance rover to retrieve the samples.
This contract comes amid a broader evaluation of various proposals from seven companies selected by NASA, with studies expected to conclude this fall. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson expressed optimism about achieving a more cost-effective and timely MSR mission, highlighting the potential for significant advancements in planetary science.
Source: SpaceNews, October 8, 2024