Mars Sample Return Options

[Rakhir]

Next phase reached in definition of Mars Sample Return mission

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

[Explorer1]

The entire motivation of the MSR program is the study of samples on Earth, anyway. Instruments in Earth orbit are only a slight improvement from those we bring to the surface of Mars.
Part of the issue is that the entry capsule has no parachute, so there's more chance of a breach when impacting at terminal velocity. But the parachute was removed due to mass requirements, as I recall, so adding it back would be counterproductive.
And the only way to decisively remove PP requirements would be to prove a negative, which is essentially impossible (and this forum has rule 1.3 anyway).