NASA is heading back to the drawing board for a Mars Sample Return architecture, and is accepting proposals for mission studies by May. I talk about a few takeaways from the communication of that plan, and ponder whether or not SpaceX is going to do the damn thing.

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 33 executive producers—Lee, Benjamin, Ryan, Stealth Julian, Russell, Warren, Will and Lars from Agile Space, The Astrogators at SEE, Matt, Bob, Kris, Harrison, David, Frank, Tyler, Jan, Steve, Joel, Theo and Violet, Pat, SmallSpark Space Systems, Joonas, Better Every Day Studios, Donald, Josh from Impulse Space, Fred, Pat from KC, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), and four anonymous—and 818 other supporters.

Topics

• NASA Sets Path to Return Mars Samples, Seeks Innovative Designs - NASA
• Rapid Mission Design Studies for Mars Sample Return
• Elon Musk on X: “@NASA Starship has the potential to return serious tonnage from Mars within ~5 years”
• NASA’s Dragonfly Rotorcraft Mission to Saturn’s Moon Titan Confirmed

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