Recent discoveries by the Mars Exploration Rovers, Mars Express, Mars Odyssey, and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft include multiple, tantalizing astrobiological targets representing both past and present environments on Mars. The most desirable path to Mars Sample Return (MSR) would be to collect and return samples from that site which provides the clearest examples of the variety of rock types considered a high priority for sample return (pristine igneous, sedimentary, and hydrothermal). Here we propose an MSR architecture in which the next steps (potentially launched in 2018) would entail a series of smaller missions, including caching, to multiple landing sites to verify the presence of high priority sample return targets through in situ analyses. This alternative architecture to one flagship-class sample caching mission to a single site would preserve a direct path to MSR as stipulated by the Planetary Decadal Survey, while permitting investigation of diverse deposit types and providing comparison of the site of returned samples to other aqueous environments on early Mars


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Multiple Smaller Missions as a Direct Pathway to Mars Sample Return


    Contributors:
    Niles, P. B. (author) / Draper, D. S. (author) / Evans, C. A. (author) / Gibson, E. K. (author) / Graham, L. D. (author) / Jones, J. H. (author) / Lederer, S. M. (author) / Ming, D. (author) / Seaman, C. H. (author) / Archer, P. D. (author)

    Conference:

    Mars Exploration Meeting ; 2012 ; Houston, TX, United States


    Publication date :

    2012-06-12


    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




    Multiple Smaller Missions as a Direct Pathway to Mars Sample Return

    P. B. Niles / D. S. Draper / C. A. Evans et al. | NTIS | 2012


    Mars rover sample return missions

    Cunningham, Glenn E. / Rea, Donald G. / Pivirotto, Donna et al. | NTRS | 1988



    Study of sample drilling techniques for Mars sample return missions

    Mitchell, D. C. / Harris, P. T. | NTRS | 1980


    Enabling Launch Vehicle Technology for Mars Sample Return Missions

    Dorsch, M. / Patel, B. / Mauritz, A. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2000