NASA is seeking a faster, cheaper way to bring Mars samples to Earth

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Colin Wilson
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TL;DR
Returning Mars samples to Earth.
Would it be possible to send a rocket to Mars containing a number of shaped charges that could be directed at the surface, timed and positioned to direct the excavated material back towards Earth for collection above the atmosphere?
 
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Probably not.
1) The orbital mechanics would be almost impossible.
2) The amount of material lofted would be small.
3) The launching and recovery of the samples would be highly “damaging”.
 
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Ya, Sort of what I thought the response would be. Probably why I'm not working for NASA.
 
Frabjous said:
Probably not.
1) The orbital mechanics would be almost impossible.
2) The amount of material lofted would be small.
3) The launching and recovery of the samples would be highly “damaging”.
Not to mention that the material would be heated, deformed and otherwise rendered useless for any kind of studies if you could get some of it into orbit. The amount of energy needed would likely be in the nuclear warhead range. The Martians might not appreciate us dropping nukes on them. :olduhh:
 
Borg said:
The Martians might not appreciate us dropping nukes on them. :olduhh:

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