PIA14265: Martian Samples Leaving Mars (Artist's Concept)


Martian Samples Leaving Mars (Artist’s Concept)

Caption:

This artist's concept of a proposed Mars sample return mission portrays the launch of an ascent vehicle. The solar panels in the foreground are part of a rover. The rover would have delivered to the ascent vehicle a cache of Martian rock samples that would have been left on the surface by a previous sample-collection rover. The ascent vehicle would release its sample container in Martian orbit, to be retrieved by a spacecraft for carrying the samples to Earth.

Background Info:

NASA and the European Space Agency are collaborating on proposals for a mission to gather samples of Martian rocks and bring them to Earth after 2020. This illustration depicts preliminary concepts, not finished design.

Cataloging Keywords:

Name Value Additional Values
Target Mars
System
Target Type Planet
Mission Mars Sample Return (MSR)
Instrument Host Mars Sample Return
Host Type Rover
Instrument
Detector
Extra Keywords Artwork, Color
Acquisition Date
Release Date 2011-06-20
Date in Caption
Image Credit NASA/JPL-Caltech
Source photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA14265
Identifier PIA14265