NASA has chosen Martin Spice to build the missile that will return the first samples from Mars

The contract brings NASA together in another phase of the first robotic round-trip flight to bring samples safely to Earth using the plan to return samples from Mars

This illustration shows a simulation of a group of future robots working together to bring back samples from Mars collected by NASA’s Mars Presbyterian vehicle. Credit: NASA / ESA / JPL-Caltech

NASA has awarded a contract to Lockheed Martin Spice of Littleton, Colorado to build the Mars (MAV), a small, light rocket to launch rock, sediment and atmospheric samples from the red star. Using the program to return samples from Mars.

“This groundbreaking venture will inspire the world when the first robotic flight mission returns a sample from another planet – a significant step that will ultimately help send the first astronauts to Mars,” said NASA Director Bill Nelson. A top priority in the planetary sciences and demonstrate our commitment to global partnerships, which will ensure that NASA remains a leader in research and discovery. “

“The MAV, which will be the first missile to be launched from another planet, is a critical part of the operation to return samples collected by NASA’s Preservation vehicle and bring them to Israel for advanced research. The NASA sampling landing lander, another important part of the operation, will take the MAV before Mars, and land near or inside the Djero crater to collect the specimens preserved by Presbyteria. , MAV will be launched.

This illustration shows a simulation of how NASA’s Martian spacecraft carrying test tubes containing rock and soil samples could be launched from Mars in one of the stages of the Mars sampling mission. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech

Once in orbit around Mars, the tank will be captured by the European Space Agency’s return mission to Earth equipped with NASA’s capture, bridging and return system. The spacecraft will bring the samples to Earth safely and securely in the early to mid – 1930s.

“The commitment regarding the Mars-type climbing vehicle is an early and tangible step in formulating the details of this ambitious project not only to land on Mars, but also to take off from it,” said Thomas Zarbken, deputy director of science at NASA headquarters in Washington. ” This one of returning the samples from Mars, and all the pieces are fitted together to bring home the first samples from another planet. When they are on Earth, they can be explored using the most advanced tools that are too complicated to launch into space. “

More on the subject on the Yadan website: