The Mars Sample Return Analogue Sample Library

Kurzfassung

As of sol 1363, the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover has sealed 28 tubes and still has the ability to collect an additional 13 more geological samples. With each additional sample, the potential Mars Sample Return (MSR) cache continues to become more scientifically valuable, particularly as Perseverance embarks on the Crater Rim Campaign. Regardless of the additional samples, even the current suite of samples represents a scientifically return-worthy cache [1], spanning a range of primary igneous textures [2-3], providing compelling lines of evidence for a rich weathering, sedimentation, and diagenetic history in the ancient Jezero watershed [4], and even the potential of organic preservation [5]. These samples will enable studies of Mars’ geological and astrobiological history as well as larger scale investigations of planetary evolution in ways previously unimaginable. Additionally, the MSR cache also holds the potential to inform on potential risks and opportunities for future human missions to the surface of Mars. Here, we will discuss the current ASL, the process for requesting samples, and the future of the ASL.