Mars Sample Return Options

[Rakhir]

Next phase reached in definition of Mars Sample Return mission

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMJAGNFGLE_index_0.html

[mcaplinger]

It seems to be a foregone conclusion among many that MSR is the next major goal for Mars exploration.

I'm confused by this for two reasons (neither new to this forum but worth reminding everyone of):

1) I haven't seen any objective evaluation of the cost of sample return versus the cost of in situ measurements. For some large class of measurements, in situ would be far cheaper. Presumably this was the motivation for the "Astrobiology Field Lab". Is there a "sample return mafia" pushing for samples?

2) Fear of the "Andromeda Strain" scenario (justified or not) will impose all kinds of sterilization requirements on the returned samples, making MSR even more expensive.

I think MSR would be extremely cool, but I fear it won't happen for a long time.

I also note that Stern was pushing MSR back in mid-07, which seems at odds with the perception that he was advocating fiscal responsibility.

[algorimancer]

....sample return versus the cost of in situ measurements....

I too have wondered this for many years. I keep hearing it repeated that we have to bring samples back to Earth to do a really thorough analysis of the sample, but I have never seen a really convincing description of why this must be so. Sure, we have geology labs and associated equipment scattered all around the world, and I'm sure that hundreds of geologists would enjoy working on returned samples, but it has long seemed to me that it should be feasible to package lab equipment to send do Mars and do a rather thorough study in situ, particularly with the progress on miniaturization of electronics and MEMS and microfluidics. MER and MSL have some pretty good equipment for remote geology (chemical & mineral analysis) already. What is lacking? I might speculate that such things as a mass spectrometer and electron microscope would be helpful, as well as tools to study isotopic variation, but I can also envision packaging versions of these to drop on Mars, perhaps something like a base station lab package in conjunction with a mobile rover which roves about picking-up samples and periodically returning them to the lab. Such a lab may not replicate all the tools available on Earth, but it could well make up much of the current gap. Sure, some of this equipment is pretty heavy, but so is a MSR vehicle. What am I missing?

[imipak]

What is lacking? I might speculate that such things as a mass spectrometer and electron microscope would be helpful, as well as tools to study isotopic variation, but I can also envision packaging versions of these to drop on Mars,..

I don't think it's practical to fly an STM, and that's just for starters