NASA shelves Mars sample return mission due to budget problems

CTOnews.com, Nov. 16 (Xinhua)-- NASA officials say they have temporarily shelved the Mars sample return (Mars Sample Return) mission due to rising costs, according to Space Policy Online.

Image source: NASA in its 2024 budget submission, NASA requested a budget of $949.3 million for the Mars sample return mission.

However, the subcommittee responsible for overseeing the agency's budget allocated only $300 million and asked it to submit an annual overview of the funds. If NASA fails to meet its requirements, it could have other implications for the mission later on.

CTOnews.com reported in October that perseverance successfully collected its 23rd rock sample on Mars, becoming the key for astronomers to explore the ancient environment of Mars.

Dynamic map of the 23rd rock sample Zhang Rongqiao, chief designer of China's first Mars exploration mission, said on China Space Day on April 24, 2022 that it plans to carry out the Mars sampling return of Tianmen 3 in 2028.

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NASA's perseverance successfully collected the 23rd Martian rock sample.