NASA's Mars Mission at a crossroads: Will Donald Trump’s administration fund the historic rock return from the Red Planet?

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

NASA’s ambitious mission to return Martian rocks to Earth has long been a tantalizing goal, one that could transform our understanding of the Red Planet—and perhaps even reveal whether life ever thrived there. However, the road to bringing these precious samples home now faces a crucial decision as President-elect Donald Trump’s administration steps in, with the final say on the Mars Sample Return mission looming large.

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For years, the Perseverance rover, which landed in the Jezero Crater in February 2021, has been diligently collecting rock samples. With over two dozen samples stashed away in various storage units on Mars, including the first-ever Martian depot, the rover’s discoveries are now waiting to be analyzed back on Earth. But despite significant scientific interest, NASA’s efforts to bring these samples to Earth have been delayed by rising costs and logistical hurdles.

As the incoming administration prepares to take office, NASA has presented two potential plans for completing the Mars Sample Return mission—both with a revised, budget-conscious price tag of between $6 and $7 billion, far below the original $11 billion target. The decision now falls on Trump’s pick for NASA Administrator, a position expected to go to private astronaut Jared Isaacman, whose leadership in the