Meet a Martian sample that has been collected and is awaiting return to Earth as part of the Mars Sample Return campaign. As of June 2023, NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover has collected and sealed 19 scientifically selected samples inside pristine tubes. The next stage is to get them back for study.

Considered one of the highest priorities by the scientists in the Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey 2023-2032, Mars Sample Return would be the first mission to return samples from another planet and provides the best opportunity to reveal the early evolution of Mars, including the potential for ancient life. NASA is teaming with ESA (European Space Agency) on this important endeavor.

Learn more about the rover’s first sample, “Roubion,” a planned rock core that unexpectedly became a sample of Mars atmosphere, highly valuable in its own right.

Read about all the carefully selected samples: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars-rock-samples