NASA’s ambition to conquer Mars has faced a severe setback after admitting that their plans are “not feasible.”
For decades, Mars has been a destination full of ambition for humanity. There were times when it seemed the Red Planet was within reach, as NASA’s programs advanced closer to reality, ushering in a new era for space science.
NASA’s Mars Sample Return program costs have quadrupled, and the timeline has been pushed to 2040. (Photo: Getty).
However, in an announcement made on April 15, NASA officials stated that repeated delays and budget overruns have made their most feasible plans increasingly distant.
We are referring to the mission to return samples from Mars, also known as the Mars Sample Return Program. The program was initially launched in 2023, projected to have a total cost of $2.5 – $3 billion and to be completed by 2031.
But now, everything seems to be spiraling out of NASA’s control. “The mission’s costs have soared to over $11 billion, and the timeline has been extended to 2040. This is unacceptable,” said Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator, in the announcement.
He also acknowledged that returning samples from Mars would be one of the most complex missions NASA has ever undertaken. Therefore, the agency is calling for support from the government and organizations around the world to develop a more feasible and realistic plan.
NASA’s ambition to conquer Mars has faced a severe setback after admitting that their plans are “not feasible.” (Photo: Getty).
Nelson’s statement has caused a significant shock in public opinion, as now their ambitious plans for Mars face the risk of being left unfinished.
This conclusion cites reasons such as limitations in the current budget to ensure balanced allocations to other high-priority scientific projects, such as the mission to send the unmanned Dragonfly spacecraft to Saturn’s moon Titan.
Nevertheless, Bill Nelson reinforced the view that NASA does not wish to terminate the program, as it is considered too important, especially as the agency seeks to send astronauts to the Red Planet in the future.
It is known that NASA’s ambitious plan originally included launching a lander designed by NASA, named Perseverance, to the Jezero Crater on Mars to collect samples.
These samples would then be sent into Mars’ orbit by the MAV launch vehicle, where a spacecraft developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) would bring them back to Earth.
This plan had excited those interested in the Red Planet for a long time. According to experts, the mission would not only provide invaluable data about humanity’s upcoming destination but could also simplify future missions significantly.
