NASA will take 10 years and at least $ 4 billion to bring rock samples taken from Mars to Earth
US space agency NASA's Perseverance rover has successfully collected samples of rocky soil from Mars. This is a good success within the pursuit of life. However, there's still an oversized a part of this mission left, with billions of dollars in expenditure and a minimum of 10 years of waiting time. Actually, the Perseverance mission isn't working alone. Its task is to gather such rock samples from the surface of Mars during which there's hope of finding traces of life. After collecting its samples, another mission will head to Mars to gather them so the third mission will take this sample in space and drop it on Earth.
According to a report by Business Insider, NASA possesses $2.7 billion for Perseverance's part. After this a rocket will head to Mars with a sample tube and rover. The rover will collect the sample tube maintained by Perseverance and convey it to the sample tube present within the rocket. This rocket will return to Earth. For this, NASA also wants to create the required fuel on Mars because it'll be difficult to require it from Earth. The MOXIE device is installed within the Perseverance itself to supply the mandatory oxygen for the fuel. With the assistance of this, the chance of creating oxygen for humans is additionally being explored within the future.
The third a part of this program are a spacecraft which will be looking forward to a rocket carrying samples from Mars. After collecting the sample from the rocket, it'll come towards the world with the assistance of electrical propulsion and can leave the sample on the planet in an entry vehicle. the price of those three missions may be between $ 7-9 billion. Except this, the value of study is different after their return to earth. However, the foremost interesting thing is that it will take a minimum of 10 years to complete this complete mission. Actually, the mandatory technology for this can be still being developed.
Talking about the Perseverance rover mission, it's mobile labs, cameras, radars, X-rays, spectrometers, drills and even lasers so the rocks of Mars are often observed properly. in line with the report, the price of high-resolution cameras is Rs 2 crore. It also must withstand the icy temperatures of Mars. The rover will collect the samples and will work to preserve them for about 10 years with none contamination.
Now the question arises that why is NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) spending most money and resources? ESA will share the expenses in both subsequent missions. Actually, about 50 years ago, the Apollo mission brought samples from the moon, whose price for science is priceless. If samples may be brought from Mars after such a fancy mission, then their cost is also higher, the worth are over that - science has never seen before within the history of human civilization.
This in itself could be a huge cost because it's a challenge to land a rover on Mars. up to now only 40% of missions sent to Mars are successful. Interestingly, this can be where the story of a giant victory begins and each step ahead are going to be absolutely essential to the success of the mission.