The mars sample return project

摘要

The 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 culmi- nate 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/CNES2005 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.