NASA Mars Ascent Vehicle Continues Progress Toward Mars Sample Return
NASA’s Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) recently reached some major milestones in support of the Mars Sample Return (MSR) program. This video shows recent tests of the first and second stage solid rocket motors needed for the launch.
Mars Sample Return will bring scientifically selected samples to Earth for study using the most sophisticated instrumentation around the world. This strategic partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA) features the first mission to return samples from another planet.
The two-stage MAV rocket is an important part of the joint plan between NASA and ESA to bring scientifically selected Martian samples to Earth in the early 2030s.
NASA’s Mars Sample Return Campaign promises to revolutionize humanity’s understanding of Mars by bringing scientifically selected samples to Earth for study using the most sophisticated instruments around the world. The campaign would fulfill a solar system exploration goal, a high priority since the 1970s and in the last three National Academy of Sciences Planetary Decadal Surveys.
This strategic NASA and ESA partnership would be the first mission to return samples from another planet and the first launch from the surface of another planet. The samples collected by NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover during its exploration of an ancient lakebed are thought to present the best opportunity to reveal clues about the early evolution of Mars, including the potential for past life. By better understanding the history of Mars, we can improve our understanding of all rocky planets in the solar system, including Earth.
Learn more about the Mars Sample Return Program: https://mars.nasa.gov/msr/
Credit: NASA Marshall Space Center/Jonathan Deal and Joe Kuner
Duration: 2 minutes
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