NASA's Mars Sample Return Mission Faces Major Cost Overruns

NASA has confirmed that the cost of its Mars Sample Return (MSR) program could be as high as $9 billion, far exceeding previous estimates. The agency has been careful not to give any estimates of costs for MSR in recent presentations, stating that it will wait until a formal confirmation review for the program, scheduled for the fall, before providing an official cost and schedule baseline. The potential cost growth has raised concerns among scientists about its impacts on other missions and the overall planetary science budget.