"The bottom line is that $11 billion is too expensive, and not returning samples until 2040 is unacceptably too long." When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

NASA's plan to retrieve samples from Mars and bring them back to Earth is currently on hold due to the need for a faster and cheaper method. The project has been on NASA's agenda for years, but the ...

Update: A minibus spending package passed by the House of Representatives on January 8, 2026, effectively cancels the Mars Sample Return program by eliminating almost all funding for future missions.

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Dr. Tracy Brower writes about joy, community and the future of work. The landscape of work is shifting significantly—and ...