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The Mars Sample Return ProjectThe Mars Sample Return (MSR) Project is underway. A 2003 mission to be launched on a Delta III Class vehicle and a 2005 mission launched on an Ariane 5 will culminate in carefully selected Mars samples arriving on Earth in 2008. NASA is the lead agency and will provide the Mars landed elements, namely, landers, rovers, and Mars ascent vehicles (MAVs). The French Space Agency CNES is the largest international partner and will provide for the joint NASA/CNES 2005 Mission the Ariane 5 launch and the Earth Return Mars Orbiter that will capture the sample canisters from the Mars parking orbits the MAVs place them in. The sample canisters will be returned to Earth aboard the CNES Orbiter in the Earth Entry Vehicles provided by NASA. Other national space agencies are also expected to participate in substantial roles. Italy is planning to provide a drill that will operate from the Landers to provide subsurface samples. Other experiments in addition to the MSR payload will also be carried on the Landers. This paper will present the current status of the design of the MSR missions and flight articles. c 2000 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.
Document ID
20040088654
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
O'Neil, W. J.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena CA United States)
Cazaux, C.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
July 1, 2000
Publication Information
Publication: Acta astronautica
Volume: 47
Issue: 2-9
ISSN: 0094-5765
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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