Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/24091954 (081654ZJAN26) Notable: NASA
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https://www.iflscience.com/us-just-killed-nasas-mars-sample-return-mission-so-what-happens-now-82148
US Just Killed NASA's Mars Sample Return Mission – So What Happens Now?
January 8, 2026
Congressional supporters of the Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission have buckled to pressure from the Trump administration to kill the centerpiece of NASA’s exploration plans over the next decade.
Although the compromise bill released this week only officially covers this year’s expenditure, few people think the mission will be revived in the next few years.
There have been enough signs this was likely, and contingency planning must be well underway, but so far, alternatives to the project remain uncertain.
Despite the improved sophistication of instruments carried to Mars since the Viking Landers added water to Martian soil in the 1970s, many experiments require equipment that would be prohibitively expensive to send 90 million kilometers (56 million miles), let alone touch down safely.
If we really want to know what Mars rocks contain, particularly possible signs of biological activity, we need to bring them back here to study.
Recognition of this saw the Mars Sample Return mission declared NASA’s highest planetary science priority back in 2011. The first part of the mission has already happened and been a major success.
The Perseverance Mars Rover has collected samples of the most interesting rocks and dust it has encountered and stored them in 33 sample tubes.
However, estimated costs have blown up for the mission plan to land on Mars, retrieve the canisters, and return to orbit to rendezvous with the Earth Return Orbiter, which would briPost too long. Click here to view the full text.
