NASA creates Mars sample-return independent review board

[Admin]

With the NASA Perseverance rover on its way to the Red Planet, NASA is getting ready for the next major step in Mars exploration — a sample return mission.

NASA creates Mars sample-return independent review board : Read more

 

[JPL-ACE]

Seems kind of redundant to send a rover to pick things up and then need another rover to take them to the return ship. Why not just use the existing rover to go to the landing spot. It would also allow knowledge of the landing site to make it more safe and precise.

 

[Abe53]

Wake up, NASA!
JPL-ACE asked a valid question which I also wondered about, yet you have no response?
1, Why is a a risky secondary fetch rover needed?
2. Why could the Mars 2020/Perseverance rover not just trundle up to the Mars Ascent Vehicle and hand over the samples?
3, Also, why risk sending the sample container unchaperoned into Mars orbit? Connected to an ascent vehicle with presumably some communication ability might make it easier found?
4. And please explain why to take the insane risk of tumbling samples back to Earth without a parachute?
5. Why not deliver it to the insanely expensive ISS long in orbit which has a Canadarm and regular exchange of humans and cargo to Earth?
6. Why not, better yet, just ask your military to pick up the sample with their very manuevereble X38 mini-space-shuttle?
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Just asking ;-)
Abe53
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