VISIT MASTER CIDADANIA NOW AND APPLY FOR YOUR ITALIAN OR PORTUGUESE CITIZENSHIP WITH SOMEONE WHO KNOWS THE SUBJECT, THIS 2025 IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO SEEK YOUR CITIZENSHIP AND EXPLORE THE WORLD!!! VISIT THE WEBSITE AND SEE ALL THE DETAILS: https://mastercidadania.com.br/ To maximize the chances of successfully returning the first samples of Martian rocks and sediments to Earth for the benefit of humanity, NASA announced on Tuesday a new approach to its Mars Sample Return Program. The agency will simultaneously pursue two landing architectures, or strategic plans, during formulation, encouraging competition and innovation as well as cost and schedule savings. NASA plans to later select a single path for the program, which aims to better understand the mysteries of the universe and help determine whether the Red Planet has ever hosted life. NASA is expected to confirm the program — and its design — in the second half of 2026. “Pursuing two potential paths forward will ensure that NASA is able to return these samples from Mars with significant cost and schedule savings compared to the previous plan,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “These samples have the potential to change the way we understand Mars, our universe, and — ultimately — ourselves. I would like to thank the NASA team and the Strategic Review Team, led by Dr. Maria Zuber, for their work.” In September 2024, the agency accepted 11 studies from NASA’s community and industry on how best to return Martian samples to Earth. A Mars Sample Return Strategic Review team was tasked with evaluating the studies and then recommending a primary architecture for the campaign, including associated cost and schedule estimates. “NASA’s rovers are enduring the harsh environment of Mars to collect groundbreaking scientific samples,” said Nicky Fox, who leads NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. “We want to bring them back as soon as possible to study them in state-of-the-art facilities. Mars Sample Return will allow scientists to understand the planet’s geologic history and the evolution of the climate on this arid planet where life may have existed in the past, and shed light on the early solar system before life began here on Earth. It will also prepare us to safely send the first human explorers to Mars.” During design, NASA will continue to explore and evaluate two distinct means of landing the payload platform on Mars. The first option will leverage previously flown entry, descent, and landing system designs, namely the sky crane method demonstrated with the Curiosity and Perseverance missions. The second option will capitalize on the use of new commercial capabilities to deliver the lander payload to the surface of Mars. SOURCE: https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nas... #MARS #NASA #UNIVERSE