Can you imagine samples Mars present on Earth so that scientists can analyze them and discover unprecedented facts about the red planet? That’s what Mars growth vehicle (Mars ascent vehicle), gives NASAwants to do: bring them here.

The spacecraft, scheduled to “launch” around 2030, will be sent to a nearby planet, prepared for a surface launch, and sent along with a sample-collecting robot that the rover perseverance, launched in 2020, is already collecting. After that, set it on fire and return to Earth with the material.

The mission was named Mars sample return (Return of samples from Mars) and is already planned at NASA facilities.

“Together we are working to take the Mars Ascent Vehicle from a drawing board concept to a workable project,” said project director Angie Jackman, according to the space agency. “We conducted exhaustive design iterations to reduce the mass of the spacecraft, enable automatic launch, and accurately enter the required orbit to rendezvous with Earth return orbiter (orbiter in Return Earth) and hand over the samples for the return flight.”

The scientist’s team includes design engineers, thermal, mechanical, system and motor engineers, as well as analysts and technologists. The team brings together NASA veterans with newcomers full of innovative ideas.

“Ask any engineer on the team and they’ll tell you they’re fascinated by science,” Angie said. “Engineers ask: “How?” Scientists ask: “Why?” Ultimately, it is this deeper imperative that drives us all – pride in helping to advance collective knowledge, enhance our ability to navigate our world safely, and better understand our place in space.”

How will the mission go?

The rocket and its design are being developed at the Marshall Space Flight Center in collaboration with aerospace company Lockheed Martin. The mission will begin by landing the module on Mars, not far from where Perseverance collects and stores soil and rock samples, Jezero Crater.

A robot will be sent near the element to pick up the materials and place them in the Mars Ascent Vehicle. After that, the ship with the container containing the samples will be launched into Mars orbit.

Finally, it will be the turn of the Earth Return Orbiter, mentioned by Jackman, to take action: the probe will be in orbit of the red planet and collect the aforementioned container to deliver it to Earth.

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Source: Technological Innovation, NASA.