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[b]Mars Program Planning Group Summary Report Released[/b] NASA's Mars Program Planning Group [URL=http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/691580main_MPPG-Integrated-v13i-Summary%20Report-9-25-12.pdf]released[/URL] (PDF) its summary report today (Sept. 25). The report's "bottom line" is: [list][*]MPPG explored many options and alternatives for creating a meaningful collaboration between science and human exploration of Mars, while leveraging and focusing technology investments towards a common goal. [*]The MPPG finds that sample return architectures provide a promising intersection of objectives and integrated strategy for long term SMD/HEOMD/STP collaboration [*]Multiple program architectures can be assembled by varying the scope, sequence, and risk posture assumed for the building blocks provided and analyzed by MPPG; NASA can choose from these to build a program strategy consistent with its long term objectives[/list] The report lays out a series of options that NASA could employ for a Mars sample return mission. The space agency is now considering the group's findings and could announce its chosen path by early next year, when the White House releases its proposed budget for fiscal year 2014. "Sample-return represents the best opportunity to find symmetry technologically between the programs," John Grunsfeld, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, said. "Sending a mission to go to Mars and return a sample looks a lot like sending a crew to Mars and returning them safely." Astronauts could even be involved in the sample-return process, according to the report. Crew members on NASA's Orion spacecraft could intercept the sample return probe in deep space, secure it in a contained environment, and bring it safely down to Earth. "It is taking advantage of the human architecture, because we anticipate it will be there," Grunsfeld said. "And it potentially solves an issue of, when we return samples, somewhere we have to make sure that the samples are completely contained so there's no chance — remote as it may be — that there is something on Mars that could contaminate Earth."
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