Ranking Member Sorensen Statement on Mars Sample Return Independent Review
WASHINGTON D.C.—Mars Sample Return (MSR) is a NASA planetary science mission being carried out in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA) to return the first samples from the surface of Mars back to Earth for scientific study and analysis. MSR has been recommended as the top priority by the 2011 and 2022 National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine decadal survey reports for planetary science. In May, the Associate Administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate called for an Independent Review Board, the second such independent review, to assess the mission’s technical, cost, schedule plans, and other factors. NASA released the results of the Independent Review Board-2 on September 21, 2023
“Mars Sample Return is an inspiring, high priority, and challenging science mission that is also of value for our future human exploration of Mars, and I am pleased that NASA is obtaining external insight and expertise on the MSR endeavor,” said Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Ranking Member Sorensen (D-IL). “I appreciate the work of the Mars Sample Return Independent Review Board and look forward to reviewing its report and NASA’s response to the Board’s recommendations.”
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