Budget Uncertainty Threatens NASA's Mars Sample Return Mission and Other Projects

NASA is slowing down work on the Mars Sample Return (MSR) program due to uncertainty surrounding its budget for next year and ongoing reviews of alternative architectures. The agency has directed three field centers to reduce activities related to MSR, driven by uncertainty over the funding it will receive from Congress. A House bill would provide the full requested amount of $949.3 million, while a Senate version would allocate only $300 million and potentially require descaling or cancellation if the total cost exceeds $5.3 billion. NASA is currently operating under a continuing resolution, and the reductions in MSR work are aimed at addressing a worst-case scenario. The decision coincides with an ongoing reassessment of the MSR architecture, with a clear and credible path expected to be determined by March 2022.