Mars Sample Return as a campaign

Abstract

Over the last few years, Mars Sample Return (MSR) has become a top priority amongst the Mars science community as the next big step in the Mars Exploration Program (MEP). In addition, a joint MEP has been established between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the European Space Agency (ESA) to work together on all future missions leading to a shared implementation of an MSR. The proposed MSR architecture has evolved into a campaign of three missions in series, along with a sample receiving facility to contain and handle the samples once back on Earth. The distinction from earlier architectures is the addition of a proposed rover-based mission to be sent in advance to carefully select and cache samples for possible eventual return. This rover mission would be baselined for launch in 2018. The next two proposed missions would entail a lander, with both a rover to fetch the previously collected cache and a rocket (Mars Ascent Vehicle, or MAV) to launch it into Mars orbit, and an orbiter that would capture the sample container and return it to Earth, landing in a specialized Earth entry vehicle (EEV). This paper discusses the current architecture, how it evolved, the challenges, and potential implementation. Concepts presented are NASA's view of the elements involved, with recognition of potential contributions of ESA. Both agencies are conducting studies to establish roles moving forward.