March 5 – NASA’s Trail rover reached the surface of Mars not long ago and will collect Martian rocks and soil and analyze them.
According to engadget, NASA has more in mind than just exploration and analysis on Mars, but also intends to bring back Mars collection samples.
NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) have reportedly signed an $84.5 million contract with Northrop Grumman Systems’ Mars Ascent Propulsion System (MAPS) to advance the “Mars Sample Return Mission.
Trailhead is understood to land in Jezero Crater, where it will spend the next few years searching for signs of Life in the area. If it finds rocks or soil worth studying, it will store them in “ultra-sterile” containers that are free of any contamination and in a mobile station.
The “Mars Sample Return” mission involves launching two spacecraft to Mars, one of which will meet with Perseverance and obtain samples, then take off and orbit Mars, while the second spacecraft will rendezvous with the first in Mars orbit and bring the samples back to Earth.
NASA’s current plan is to launch two spacecraft in 2026, reach Mars in 2028, and bring Mars samples back to Earth by 2031.
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