NASA: Returning Mars Samples Can Be Delayed And Hinder Astronaut Landing Missions

Illustration of sample collection from Mars (photo: dock. NASA)

JAKARTA NASA held a teleconference on Monday, April 15 to discuss a review of the Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission. This large program is expected to be delayed due to financial problems. Based on an independent review, NASA's Administrator, Bill Nelson, said that the return of samples carried by the Perseverance rover could cost up to 11 billion US dollars (Rp177 trillion). This fund will not be collected until fiscal year 2025. If NASA does not find the right solution to address this issue, the MSR mission could be delayed until 2040. Nelson said that this should not happen because of its target, "in the 2040s, we will land astronauts on Mars." In order for the sample return mission not to take a very long time, NASA will collect suggestions and ideas from its various central facilities, including the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. NASA still expects a faster and cheaper solution.

Nelson said that NASA is targeting a budget of under 7 billion US dollars (Rp113 trillion). The mission is expected to take place in the 2030s so that the country's agencies do not hinder the astronaut's landing mission on Mars. Prior to an independent review conducted in September last year, NASA estimated the launch of the mission in 2027 or 2028. However, this estimate is unlikely because NASA faces challenges such as technical, risk, and performance.NASA does not specify the risks and technical issues as they face in deploying the mission. Currently, the state agency is still focused on raising funds because MSR will not be realized if it does not have funds.