How can i BE a Part of Mars Sample Return?: Opportunities for the International Scientific Community.

As an international undertaking, the Mars Sample Return (MSR) campaign would necessarily require high level coordination to ensure that the scientific benefits of returning samples from Mars are enhanced to the fullest extent and that scientific communities around the world would be able to make contributions throughout the MSR process. To begin addressing such a challenge, NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) chartered the MSR Science Planning Group (MSPG) in 2018.

As part of its mandate, the MSPG was tasked to develop a framework establishing a clear understanding of the potential scientific benefits of the MSR collaboration for all international partners, ensuring fair and competitive scientific participation and access to the samples. Throughout its deliberations, the MSPG adhered to four driving themes: Transparency: program elements must be fair, open, and competed wherever possible; Science maximization: access to the samples must be based on the scientific merit of the proposed investigations; Accessibility: international scientists must have multiple opportunities to earn access to the samples, and; One Return Canister / One Collection: samples must be treated as a single collection, regardless of whether or not there is more than one curation facility.

From sample selection to eventual analyses in terrestrial laboratories, the MSPG has developed an integrated timeline of anticipated science activities that would allow the international community to contribute to the MSR campaign. This work highlights the numerous access points for scientists with diverse expertise at a variety of career stages, and solicits feedback from the community to ensure that the overall framework represents their interests and needs.