Mars Sample Return Options

[Rakhir]

Next phase reached in definition of Mars Sample Return mission

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

[tanjent]

I know it sounds very cynical, but given the technical difficulty and risks of automated sample retrieval coupled with the tendency of the budgeting process to embed large giveaways to politically influential contractors who then fail to meet their deadlines, it may make sense to slow down the spending of tax dollars on the problem and instead wait for a privately sponsored mission to bring the samples back. Of course at that point, there would be other samples available from other locations.

Enough said (probably more than enough, but at least I have left out the forbidden word beginning with m).

[mcaplinger]

wait for a privately sponsored mission to bring the samples back...

Despite all the hype from some quarters, you might have a long wait.

[stevesliva]

Despite all the hype from some quarters, you might have a long wait.

Similar thoughts have me wondering if the complicated architectures are sisyphean "light and fast" and what's needed is "siege tactics" (to steal some mountaineering terms.) But the current caching presumes continued "light and fast" in that there's not like 6 wildly oversized caches, all of which would suffice.

Missions that managed to launch doubles, like Voyager and MER are notable for their rarity, and also sort of demonstrate that when one succeeds, the other probably will.

Constraining the amount of money this will cost is extremely difficult either way.

[StargazeInWonder]

The news about NASA's Mars sample return is now about budgets and politicians what happens with upcoming mission development is going to be a waiting game while budgets are determined.

I guess there are roughly three possible paths:

1) Steep funding cuts, staffing is slashed, and MSR is potentially pushed indefinitely into the future.
2) Operations continue apace as though a workable plan were already underway.
3) Enough funding is provided to keep staffs retained while a whole new plan is developed.

We may have some dry years ahead.

[vjkane]

The news about NASA's Mars sample return is now about budgets and politicians what happens with upcoming mission development is going to be a waiting game while budgets are determined.

I guess there are roughly three possible paths:

1) Steep funding cuts, staffing is slashed, and MSR is potentially pushed indefinitely into the future.
2) Operations continue apace as though a workable plan were already underway.
3) Enough funding is provided to keep staffs retained while a whole new plan is developed.

We may have some dry years ahead.

There are two problems.

First is what flow of funding the political system is willing to provide? It appears that huge buckets of $s up front is out, but NASA doesn't know what the sustainable level will be yet

Second is that several parts of the design, in particular the orbital capsule and how many samples it will carry, are technically immature and for a rushed program puts the entire program at risk

It appears that NASA is presuming a much smaller annual funding flow. Over the next year, they will re-architect the program to match what they expect. In parallel, they will use funds available this year to mature design of critical systems.