Forward Planning for the Science of Mars Sample Return - Open Questions and Next Steps

Introduction

Beginning with the April 2018 Statement of Intent regarding MSR, NASA and ESA initiated planning for a potential partnership to return the M-2020 samples from Mars to Earth.  A fundamental premise of the partnership is that scientists funded by NASA, or from ESA Member (and Associate) States or other partnership nations would equitably share in the planning for MSR science as well as have equal access to the samples for collective scientific benefits and discoveries.  As one component of that planning, the MSR Science Planning Group (MSPG) was chartered in late 2018 to begin addressing key outstanding science issues via a series of international workshops and to develop the framework for a science management plan.

Some of the major open science-related issues that have been defined so far include:

1. Development of a complete science management plan starting from the MSPG “A Framework for Mars Returned Sample Science Management” [1].
2. Five open issues were identified at the January, 2019 workshop “MSR Science in Containment” for which follow-up action was recommended at a high level of priority [2].
3. Several areas requiring further work were also identified at the May, 2019 “Contamination Control” workshop [3].

The purpose of this conference presentation is to seek community discussion of the issues to be presented, and input into additional issues, if any, that are missing.  All of this will be input into planning for Mars Sample Return Science (MSR) over the next 1-2 years.

A Vision for What Needs to be Done Within the Next Year

1. Using the October 2019 document “A Framework for Mars Returned Sample Science Management,” along with feedback from NASA and ESA, and the draft or final MSR MOU, MSPG-2 will prepare the “Mars Returned Sample Science Management Plan.”
2. Address some or all of the technical by means of convening representatives from the scientific community, conducting workshops, establishing topical committees, directed work, and/or the MSPG-2’s own internal efforts. Emphasis is placed on the responsibility of this group to represent the view of the international science community and other stake-holders of Mars Sample Return science output.
3. Formulate strategies to maintain engagement with the science research community during this early planning period.

References:

[1] MSPG (2019a), A Framework for Mars Returned Sample Science Management. https://mepag.jpl.nasa.gov/reports/MSPG_ScienceManagementReport_Final.pdf

[2] MSPG (2019b), The Relationship of MSR Science and Containment. Unpublished workshop report, https://mepag.jpl.nasa.gov/reports/Science%20in%20Containment%20Report.pdf.

[3] MSPG (2019c), Science-Driven Contamination Control Issues Associated with the Receiving and Initial Processing of the MSR Samples. Unpublished workshop report https://mepag.jpl.nasa.gov/reports/MSPG%20Contamination%20Control%20Report%20Final.pdf.

Disclaimer: The decision to implement Mars Sample Return will not be finalized until NASA’s completion of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. This document is being made available for information purposes only.