Mars Sample Return News & Features
NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Team Says Goodbye … for Now
The final downlink shift by the Ingenuity team was a time to reflect on a highly successful mission — and to prepare the first aircraft on another world for its new role. Engineers working on NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter assembled…
Rock Sampled by NASA’s Perseverance Embodies Why Rover Came to Mars
The 24th sample taken by the six-wheeled scientist offers new clues about Jezero Crater and the lake it may have once held. Analysis by instruments aboard NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover indicate that the latest rock core taken by the rover…
NASA Uses Two Worlds to Test Future Mars Helicopter Designs
Engineers will go beyond the ends of the Earth to find more performance for future Mars helicopters. For the first time in history, two planets have been home to testing future aircraft designs. On this world, a new rotor that…
NASA’s Perseverance Captures Dust-Filled Martian Whirlwind
The six-wheeled geologist spotted the twister as part of an atmospheric exploration of Jezero Crater. The lower portion of a Martian dust devil was captured moving along the western rim of Mars’ Jezero Crater by NASA’s Perseverance rover on Aug.…
Historic Wind Tunnel Facility Testing NASA’s Mars Ascent Vehicle Rocket
The same facility that provided valuable testing for NASA missions to low-Earth orbit and the Moon is now helping the agency prepare to launch the first rocket from Mars. The MAV (Mars Ascent Vehicle) team recently completed wind tunnel testing…
Historic Wind Tunnel Facility Testing NASA’s Mars Ascent Vehicle Rocket
By Jessica Barnett The MAV (Mars Ascent Vehicle) team recently completed wind tunnel testing at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in a facility that has been a critical part of NASA missions going all the way back to the Apollo…
NASA Releases Independent Review’s Mars Sample Return Report
The agency established the board in May 2023 to evaluate the technical, cost, and schedule plans prior to confirmation of the mission’s design. An Independent Review Board (IRB) looked at NASA’s current plans and goals of the first mission to…
Javier Ocasio-Pérez Brings Teams and Missions Together
Javier Ocasio-Pérez uses ingenuity and teamwork to lead integration and testing (I&T) for the Capture, Containment, and Return System (CCRS) for the Mars Sample Return (MSR) Mission.
Watch NASA Engineers Put a Mars Lander’s Legs to the Test
Sturdy legs are needed to absorb the impact of the heaviest spacecraft to ever touch down on the Red Planet.
NASA to Convene Mars Sample Return Review
The board, initiated by NASA, will provide added confidence that the program won’t exceed guidelines following an important upcoming milestone.