NASA and an international team are developing
plans and seeking recommendations to launch the first Mars mission
to bring soil samples back to Earth. The ability to study soil
from Mars here on Earth will contribute significantly to answering
questions about the possibility of life on the Red Planet. Returned
samples also will increase understanding of the useful or harmful
properties of Martian soil, which will support planning for the
eventual human exploration of Mars.
A task force named the International Mars Architecture for Return of Samples, or
IMARS, recently met in Washington to lay the foundation for an international
collaboration to return samples from Mars. NASA hosted the meeting. IMARS meeting
participants included representatives from more than half a dozen countries and NASA,
the European Space Agency, or ESA, the Canadian Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace
Exploration Agency.
IMARS is a committee of the International Mars Exploration Working Group, or IMEWG. The
group was formed in 1993 to provide a forum for the international coordination of Mars exploration missions.
"The potential paradigm-changing science from Mars samples makes this mission a high priority
of the National Academy of Sciences," said Doug McCuistion, NASA's Mars Exploration program
director, Science Mission Directorate, Washington.
"The exciting progress being made by the IMARS team is contributing directly to making
this mission a reality in the next decade, All spacefaring nations have a standing
invitation from IMEWG to participate in IMARS."
Scientists reviewed past
engineering work on a Mars sample return mission, international science priorities,
and sample receiving facility requirements. The IMARS team made significant progress
in many of the key issues associated with the integration of science and engineering challenges.
The team established a common strategy for launching a Mars sample return mission and achieving
scientific objectives that can be met only by returning Martian soil to Earth.
"For Europe this is a major step to shape the future of the ESA Aurora Exploration
Programme in 2008," said Bruno Gardini, ESA's Exploration Program Manager. The Aurora
Programme is part of Europe's strategy for space, initiated by ESA in 2001 to create and
implement a long-term European plan for robotic and human exploration of the solar system.
The next steps in preparing for a Mars sample return mission includes more detailed
international trade studies on engineering and mission specifics, greater detail on
science and sample requirements, and definition and requirements for Earth-based
facilities. IMARS will address the technical issues in upcoming meetings, along
with preliminary discussions of the possible roles of interested nations and agencies.
This article is a reprint of a NASA/JPL news release from December
10, 2007.
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The soils of Mars have been examined through the use of
images and by analysis done by robots on the planet's
surface. However, there is no subsitute for samples that
can be viewed directly and subjected to a full range of
chemical, mineralogical and other analysis. NASA Image.
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Microscopic view of tiny hematite spheres in a Martian
soil. Imaged during Opportunity's mission to Meridiani
Planum. NASA Image.
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Much of the Martian surface is sandy. Dunes are a common
feature. NASA Image.
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