NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) are teaming up to return a sample of Martian material to Earth in the 2030s, but that has provoked fears in some quarters that we could be bringing back more than just rock and air. Could we inadvertently contaminate Earth's biosphere with Martian microbes? The scientific desire for a Mars sample return is clear.
The Moon rocks returned to the Earth by the Apollo astronauts over half a century ago are still studied to this day and are a treasure trove of invaluable information about the Moon's composition, history and formation.
And while we've had a permanent presence on the Martian surface for 25 years now, scientists are keen to study pristine pieces of Mars in the lab. After all, our laboratories on Earth are far more advanced than anything we can squeeze into a rover.
The plan is to dispatch two courier spacecraft to Mars in the late 2020s to collect samples of rocks, soil and atmosphere gathered up by the Perseverance rover currently trawling the Martian surface. A spacecraft would land nearby and transfer the samples over from Perseverance. It would then launch into Mars orbit to rendezvous with the second spacecraft, which would then transport the samples back to Earth sometime in the early 2030s.
But what are the chances they'll bring back more than they bargained for?
This story is from the Summer 2022 edition of BBC Science Focus.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Summer 2022 edition of BBC Science Focus.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
5 SIMPLE WAYS TO RECLAIM YOUR ATTENTION
Primed for constant interruptions, your brain is now distracting itself, says science. It's time to break the cycle and retrain your focus
GOING ROGUE
Some planets are stuck following the same orbital paths their entire lives. Others break free to wander alone through the vast, empty darkness of interstellar space and there's a lot more of them than you might think
BED BUGS VS THE WORLD
When bloodthirsty bed bugs made headlines for infesting Paris Fashion Week in 2023, it shone a spotlight on a problem that's been making experts itch for decades: the arms race going on between bed bugs and humans. Now, with the 2024 Summer Olympics fast approaching, the stakes are higher than ever
THE EYES THAT WATCH THE SKY
When it launches in 2026, the Copernicus programme's Anthropogenic Carbon Dioxide Monitoring satellite will give us a new window on to Earth's atmosphere... And how we're altering it
TIME-RESTRICTED EATING LINKED TO HIGHER RISK OF CARDIOVASCULAR DEATH
Skipping breakfast might not be so good for your health, after all
INSIDE THE PROJECT TO SCAN THOUSANDS OF RARE SPECIMENS
A major collaborative project has created 3D reconstructions of previously locked away museum specimens
VIDEO IS FIRST EVIDENCE OF AN ORCA KILLING A GREAT WHITE
Tourists sailing off the South African coast film a never-before-seen event: a lone orca attacking a 2.5m shark
AI REVEALS PROSTATE CANCER IS NOT JUST ONE DISEASE
DNA analysis carried out by artificial intelligence has helped scientists make a discovery that could revolutionise future treatment
MYSTERIOUS WAVES DETECTED IN JUPITER'S CORE
Scientists hope unusual fluctuations in the gas giant's magnetic field might reveal what's inside
MINI ORGANS GROWN FROM UNBORN BABIES MARK A BREAKTHROUGH IN PRENATAL MEDICINE
A new technique could allow congenital conditions to be diagnosed and treated before birth