Mars Sample Return, two new Martian helicopters for sample recovery

Both NASA together with ESA and the Chinese space agency CNSA have ambitious plans for the recovery of the first samples directly from the surface of Mars. Although the Chinese may surprise everyone at least a year earlier, NASA is currently working on planning what will effectively be one of the most complex missions of the last decade.

We are still in the conceptual design phase and in these days we have tried to perfect the recovery process with the aim of reducing the risks of failure as much as possible. We work full-time both on Earth and on Mars, and the very latest means sent to the red planet are making a difference, leading NASA and ESA to evaluate different solutions from those predicted just a few months ago.

The changes to the procedures are in some way also linked to the forecasts of use of the Rover Perseverance, whose longevity should allow him to arrive in health until the appointment with the recovery process (which will take place roughly around 2030). It was in fact decided that the latest NASA rover will be the primary means of transporting the samples to the Sample Retrieval Landerthat is the one that will transport the Mars Ascent Vehicle (with which the samples will depart from Mars), and the ESA Sample Transfer Arm, which will take care of the final handling of the samples.

Compared to the initial plans, it was decided to avoid sending a second rover, the Sample Fetch Rover, in favor of two new and decidedly smaller vehicles. On board the Sample Retrieval Lander, in fact, we will find two new helicopters resulting from the successful experience with Ingenuity. Their role will not be primary, but they will act as a backup solution in case something goes wrong with the recovery by Perseverance. Ingenuity has now completed the beauty of 29 flights, surpassing any initial expectations, therefore the decision to rely on this technology that we can now consider consolidated is sensible.

NASA plans to launch the Earth Return Orbiter and the Sample Retrieval Lander one year later, in the fall of 2027 and in the summer of 2028, respectively, while the arrival of the samples on Earth is expected by 2033.

Now that conceptual design is nearing its end, the program is expected to enter its preliminary design phase very soon, perhaps already in October of this year. Once started, the preliminary phase will last about 12 months, during which time the first engineering prototypes will be created of the main components of the mission.

These changes to the Mars Sample Return campaign have been presented to delegates from the 22 participating states in the exploration program, but have not yet been finalized. The next meeting in September will be decisive, during which the member states of the project will consider the interruption of the development of the Sample Fetch Rover in favor of Perseverance and the two backup helicopters.