Christine Thropp
NASA is seeking feedback on its initial plans for a proposed initiative to collect samples on the surface of Mars using the Perseverance rover and return the scientifically selected items to Earth for analysis and research.
The space agency said Friday comments about the scope of an upcoming Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Mars Sample Return campaign will inform the subsequent creation and release of the document slated later in 2022.
NASA is required by the National Environmental Policy Act to have a Programmatic EIS that studies and shows MSR campaign’s potential environmental impacts. The NEPA analysis will focus on flight and ground elements due to MSR campaign’s large coverage and other factors like timing and location.
There are four flight elements: Sample Caching Rover, Sample Fetch Rover Lander, Mars Ascent Vehicle Lander and Earther Return Orbiter. On the other hand, Sample Transportation and Sample Receiving Facility are the two Earth-based ground elements for the campaign.
NASA will hold two virtual public meetings on Wednesday and Thursday and will accept proposed program feedback until May 16.
