Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 03/12/2019 06:13 pmBelated post; follow-on posts up-thread:ESA and NASA to Investigate Bringing Martian Soil to Earth, dated April 26, 2018ESA and NASA signed a statement of intent today to explore concepts for missions to bring samples of martian soil to Earth.I'd note that we've heard almost nothing about this since then. I don't necessarily think that's a bad sign, but it does raise the question of what has been going on behind closed doors.
Belated post; follow-on posts up-thread:ESA and NASA to Investigate Bringing Martian Soil to Earth, dated April 26, 2018ESA and NASA signed a statement of intent today to explore concepts for missions to bring samples of martian soil to Earth.
Amidst Cuts to NASA, Mars Sample Return May Finally HappenQuote<snip>A third mission would rendezvous with the orbiting samples and return them to Earth. [my bold]ESA is considering a major contribution to that third spacecraft, with a decision due later this year.
<snip>A third mission would rendezvous with the orbiting samples and return them to Earth. [my bold]ESA is considering a major contribution to that third spacecraft, with a decision due later this year.
FYI, I started a new thread in the Mars missions sub-forum for Mars Sample Return: NASA - Mars Sample Return (perhaps ESA, too?)I did so predicated on the notion that the funding is for a "new start." If not, then, if best, that new thread can be merged with this existing thread.
Reported FY20 MSR funding is $190M. Seems enough to do some serious mission definition and technology advancement. I think there was $50M in FY19.The key is whether or not MSR is proposed as a new start or the money is simply in a technology fund. The former, if approved by Congress, makes it a formal project; the latter leaves it as a goal for future approval.
ANDREW HUNTER: We have $109 million allocated in '20 for future Mars activities, the majority of which would be applied to the Mars Sample Return Mission to begin early formulation there, and yes, that would be dovetailed with the Mars 2020, which would deposit a cached samples so that the Mars Sample Return would retrieve.
LOREN GRUSH (The Verge): Hi. Thanks for taking my question again. I'm also curious about—are there any plans to replace our current infrastructure at Mars in advance of the Mars SampleReturn Mission such as new communication satellites that are aging and orbiter on Mars rightnow?ANDREW HUNTER: Not at this time. Not in this budget.
Quote from: vjkane on 03/12/2019 07:35 pmReported FY20 MSR funding is $190M. Seems enough to do some serious mission definition and technology advancement. I think there was $50M in FY19.The key is whether or not MSR is proposed as a new start or the money is simply in a technology fund. The former, if approved by Congress, makes it a formal project; the latter leaves it as a goal for future approval.Was the $190M funding figure a typo? This article cites $109M.
Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 03/12/2019 09:58 pmFYI, I started a new thread in the Mars missions sub-forum for Mars Sample Return: NASA - Mars Sample Return (perhaps ESA, too?)I did so predicated on the notion that the funding is for a "new start." If not, then, if best, that new thread can be merged with this existing thread.That's an awkward title for a thread.