Europe's Mars sample return orbiter moving ahead despite NASA budget uncertainty

[Admin]

The European Space Agency's Earth Return Orbiter has passed its design review, which validates its technical details and moves the project onto manufacturing and testing.

Europe's Mars sample return orbiter moving ahead despite NASA budget uncertainty : Read more

 

[vadertime]

So, of course this begs the question: What if NASA cannot accomplish their part of the exercise - building a vehicle to launch the samples into orbit for the Europeans. Think about it. We are not talking about 1 space craft. We are talking about a minimum of two if not more. Something has to transport the Mars surface return rocket to Mars. Then the return rocket has to descend to Mars, collect the samples, which I understand are scattered over a large area, and then stow them into the return container and take off with it into Mars Orbit. So, we are talking: 1) Big ship to carry small surface ship to Mars, 2) Surface ship, either 1 or 2 piece, that also carries 3) surface vehicle to collect the samples. We are talking about a minimum of 3 vehicles. It would have been easier if Perseverance came with a collection container in which to put all the samples, but I guess those rocket engineers weren't thinking that far ahead. Good luck and thanks for all the fish. Cheers.

 

[Rob77]

Depending how Starship goes and how ambitious Musk is - I think we might get people to Mars before NASA builds ships to collect the samples.

 

[EJD1984]

How can the ESA fully continue with their ERO design since the main component, CCRS is a NASA GSFC design that is currently on pause?
*Though the CCRS design is also nearly 100% complete.

 

[Cdr. Shepard]

Depending how Starship goes and how ambitious Musk is - I think we might get people to Mars before NASA builds ships to collect the samples.

Based on current trajectory of Starship's progress and Elon's hunger to get there, I think you might be right.