JPL
Careers
Education
Science & Technology
JPL Logo
JPL Logo
Image

Mars Samples: Proposed Containment and Transport

March 30, 2023
This illustration shows the proposed process for recovering Mars samples gathered by NASA's Perseverance Mars rover after they are returned to Earth as part of the joint NASA/ESA Mars Sample Return Campaign.

This illustration shows the proposed process for safely recovering, containing, and transporting Mars samples gathered by NASA's Perseverance Mars rover after they are returned to Earth as part of the joint NASA/ESA (European Space Agency) Mars Sample Return Campaign.

The process of carefully containing and handling the samples would begin long before they arrive on Earth. Every phase of the Mars Sample Return campaign from collection and sealing to launch, transfer, and landing has been developed with a "safety first" approach. Sample handling and curation experts would be involved in planning for the round trip at each phase of the campaign.

After its journey back to Earth from Mars on the ESA-provided Earth Return Orbiter, the capsule containing the samples would land at the Utah Test and Training Range in west-central Utah. NASA would securely transport the capsule and its contents to a Sample Return Facility at a location to be determined. Once at the facility, the samples would undergo a rigorous process to assess whether they are safe for release for detailed analysis by scientists from around the world.

The multi-mission Mars Sample Return program is being planned by NASA and ESA. After the samples return to Earth, they would be transferred to NASA's Sample Receiving Project led by the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The Sample Receiving Project, a joint NASA/ESA initiative, is managed by NASA's Mars Exploration Program. The Mars Exploration Program is managed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.

For more information, visit: mars.nasa.gov.

Download JPG
Download TIFF
Mission
Target
  • Mars
Credit
NASA/JPL-Caltech

Keep Exploring

Illustration of the Capture, Containment, and Return System for Mars Sample Return

Artist's concept of the Earth Return Orbiter over Mars

Artist's concept of the Capture, Containment, and Return System

Artist's Concept of Earth Return Orbiter Releasing Capsule containing Martian Samples

Earth Return Orbiter Infographic

Mars Earth Entry System Aeroshell at Entry (Illustration)

Mars Sample Return Concept Illustration

First Meeting of Mars Sample Return Campaign Science Group

Mars Sample Return Campaign Science Group Team Photo

Mars Sample Retrieval Lander Concept Illustration

Related Topics

Solar System .

Space Trivia Question

Mission .

Surveyor 4

News .

NASA Scientists Make First Observation of a Polar Cyclone on Uranus

News .

NASA’s Perseverance Rover Captures View of Mars’ Belva Crater

News .

NASA’s Perseverance Rover Captures View of Mars’ Belva Crater

News .

NASA’s Lunar Flashlight to Fly by Earth

News .

NASA’s Juno Mission Getting Closer to Jupiter’s Moon Io

News .

NASA Calls End to Lunar Flashlight After Some Tech Successes

News .

Images From NASA’s Perseverance May Show Record of Wild Martian River

News .

Images From NASA’s Perseverance May Show Record of Wild Martian River

About JPL
Who We Are
Executive Council
Directors
Careers
Internships
The JPL Story
JPL Achievements
Documentary Series
Annual Reports
Missions
Current
Past
Future
All
News
All
Earth
Solar System
Stars and Galaxies
Subscribe to JPL News
Galleries
Images
Videos
Audio
Podcasts
Apps
Visions of the Future
Slice of History
Robotics at JPL
Events
Lecture Series
Team Competitions
Speakers Bureau
Calendar
Visit
Public Tours
Virtual Tour
Directions and Maps
Topics
JPL Life
Solar System
Mars
Earth
Climate Change
Exoplanets
Stars and Galaxies
Robotics
More
Asteroid Watch
NASA's Eyes Visualizations
Universe - Internal Newsletter
Social Media
Get the Latest from JPL
Follow Us

JPL is a federally funded research and development center managed for NASA by Caltech.

More from JPL
Careers Education Science & Technology Acquisitions JPL Store
Careers
Education
Science & Technology
Acquisitions
JPL Store
Related NASA Sites
Basics of Spaceflight
Climate Kids
Earth / Global Climate Change
Exoplanet Exploration
Mars Exploration
Solar System Exploration
Space Place
NASA's Eyes Visualization Project
Voyager Interstellar Mission
NASA
Caltech
Privacy
Image Policy
FAQ
Feedback
Site Managers: Veronica McGregor, Randal Jackson
Site Editors: Tony Greicius, Naomi Hartono
CL#: 21-0018