NASA is seeking a faster, cheaper way to bring Mars samples to Earth

[Colin Wilson]

TL;DR Summary

Returning Mars samples to Earth.

Would it be possible to send a rocket to Mars containing a number of shaped charges that could be directed at the surface, timed and positioned to direct the excavated material back towards Earth for collection above the atmosphere?

 

[Frabjous]

Probably not.
1) The orbital mechanics would be almost impossible.
2) The amount of material lofted would be small.
3) The launching and recovery of the samples would be highly “damaging”.

 

[Colin Wilson]

Ya, Sort of what I thought the response would be. Probably why I'm not working for NASA.

 

[berkeman]

Well, that title is the same as the current news story that is online through multiple outlets. Looks like that's why the OP chose that as the title, and then proposed his "solution" in his OP.

https://ktvz.com/news/ap-national-n...r-cheaper-way-to-bring-mars-samples-to-earth/

 

[Borg]

Probably not.
1) The orbital mechanics would be almost impossible.
2) The amount of material lofted would be small.
3) The launching and recovery of the samples would be highly “damaging”.

Not to mention that the material would be heated, deformed and otherwise rendered useless for any kind of studies if you could get some of it into orbit. The amount of energy needed would likely be in the nuclear warhead range. The Martians might not appreciate us dropping nukes on them.

 

[berkeman]

The Martians might not appreciate us dropping nukes on them.

 

[pinball1970]

View attachment 343535

Reminds of someone...

As well as studying the morphology they have Rover

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

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