NASA:s new mission to return samples from Mars astonish the world.

The new mission where probes are bringing samples from planet Mars to Earth can be even more interesting than the JWST telescope. For the first time in history. The mineral samples will be taken from another planet. And take it to a special laboratory.

And one of the reasons why NASA wants to make that mission is fossils that are found from meteorites. Those samples can answer was there some kind of bacteria living on Mars. There was water on Mars before it lost its lithosphere and there could live some kind of primitive procaryotes on Mars. If that thing is true the next question is where life was formed. 

The fact is that water is more common in the universe than nobody expected. And even if there is no free oxygen in the atmosphere of some planets the hypothetical lifeforms can create oxygen straight from water by cutting water molecules by using electricity. Those cells can form electricity by using similar cells that electric eels use to create electric shocks. And the electric cells can get their power from photosynthesis. The fact is this. 

The first bacteria on Earth were not vegetables or animals. They were photosynthetic creatures that could move. Free oxygen was poison for those bacteria same way it poison also to some anaerobic bacteria. So maybe that kind of creature formed also on other planets. And then impact with asteroid ended the story of the life on Mars. 

Maybe those samples that NASA brings to Earth can confirm that theorem. But there is the possibility that those fossils are not covering the entire red planet. They might exist only in places where was no ultraviolet radiation. And there is a possibility that samples are taken from sterile areas. 

And there is, of course, the possibility that those bacteria will not be found on those samples. That can tell that there was no life on Mars. But it's always possible that the rover that takes those samples accidentally collects stones where are no fossils by selecting them from next to stones where are fossils. 

https://scitechdaily.com/mars-sample-return-mission-nasa-will-astonish-the-world/

Image:) https://scitechdaily.com/mars-sample-return-mission-nasa-will-astonish-the-world/

The rocket that brings samples from Mars got its contractor. And that is Lockheed-Martin corporation.

Image 1)" This illustration shows a concept for a set of future robots working together to ferry back samples from the surface of Mars collected by NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover. Credit: NASA/ESA/JPL-Caltech" (ScitechDaily/NASA Selects Lockheed Martin Space To Build Rocket To Retrieve First Samples From Mars)

Lockheed-Martin took the contract for creating a rocket that brings the first samples from Mars. That launch will be the first that brings samples from other planets. The purpose of the mission is also to collect data for the first manned Mars mission.

 But that launch from another planet is same way remarkable as helicopter flight at Mars atmosphere. The rocket from Mars to Earth is the pathfinder for more difficult missions like bringing water samples from the icy moons of Jupiter. 

When we think about missions in the distant future. Those missions focused on more distant objects and planets like Neptune. There is needed a new type of technology to make the mission successful. 

Things like artificial intelligence are needed. To make the independently operating probes that can take the most interesting samples. The helicopter probes can mark places where their plasma spectrometers detect things like chlorophyll molecules. Or the independently operating helicopter can take samples from those points. The system that takes samples from Mars to Earth consists of three independent systems. 

The helicopter, the Perseverance rover, along with other rovers, and of course, the rocket are tools for that system. That rocket sends samples to Earth. And it can be similar to MGM-51 Lance tactical missile from the past. 

Image 2) MGM-52 Lance

And maybe some kind of laboratory vehicle where is more multi-use systems like scanning tunneling microscopes for pre-select samples that will load to rocket. Those samples are sent to Earth or Moon laboratories. That laboratory might connect to the launch platform of the rocket.

But that rocket must carry the fuel inside it for returning to Earth. Or it can use the electrolysis for breaking water on Mars. But that kind of system requires water. So the fuel and oxygen must load to rocket on Earth. The rocket itself can bases technology that is developed for tactical missiles like MGM-52 Lance or Pershing. The question is does that rocket use liquid or solid fuel. 

The moon-based laboratories must not be manned. The remote control modules can involve similar systems with BL-5 level laboratories. But on the Moon, those samples are not polluted. The remote-control systems make those modules easy to operate from Earth. 

Image 2)Daedalus spacecraft concept.

But of course, those samples can take to BL-5 laboratories that are needed to keep them sterile. If Earth bacteria infects those samples. They can cover or destroy the remains of life like Martian bacteria fossils.

The system that will travel to those distant planets is the probe that is controlled with highly sophisticated artificial intelligence. There might be man-looking robots onboard that are fixing errors and damages of those probes. The journey to Neptune takes a very long time and robot craft would not require that any person must stay years in the space. 

The probe for outer planets might look like Daedalus-probe that planned to send to Alpha Centauri. But for technical reasons that famous theoretical study project remains as the papers and drawings. Maybe someday in the future, that kind of plan turns to real space systems. And maybe that day is closer than we even think. If ten years ago somebody would say. Someday NASA will get samples from Mars to Earth that thing would claim pure fantasy. 

The system would be very independent. And it can select its samples itself. The capacity for independent operations is a key element for successful missions in Kuiper Belt. Those probes must select the target in seconds if they want to catch small asteroids that might be from other solar systems. After catching objects that seem interesting. The probe would put those asteroids in a cargo room and send them to Earth. 

And that is the final training for interstellar probes. The interstellar space probe is the thing that travels tens of years to stars. The technology that those missions require is similar. To that the probes that operate at the Kuiper belt require. 

https://scitechdaily.com/mars-ascent-vehicle-nasa-selects-lockheed-martin-space/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MGM-31_Pershing

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MGM-52_Lance

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Daedalus

Image 1)https://scitechdaily.com/mars-ascent-vehicle-nasa-selects-lockheed-martin-space/

Image 2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MGM-52_Lance

Image 3)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Daedalus

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