The European Space Agency ( ESA ) and NASA have sign on a letter of intent to mould on a charge to go to Mars , collect grime sample , and hark back them back to Earth . Such a feat will allow more sophisticated analysis of the Martian rocks than would be possible with a lander or rover . The samples will be kept in pristine experimental condition so that final result can be independently verified and new ideas tested when technology better .

It wo n’t be easy , but it is potential to do this with just three missions . One roamer will amass the samples and store them , another will transmit the sample to a lander and place them into a Mars Ascent Vehicle , and finally , a third mission will pick up the samples in orbit and   take them back to Earth .

Two rovers that can perform such a feat will be on Mars at the beginning of the next decade . NASA’sMars 2020 roverwill   pull in sampling in lilliputian canisters and at the same prison term , ESA’sExoMars roverwill   Mandrillus leucophaeus 2 meters ( 6.6 human foot ) below the control surface to search for traces of life . The samples will then have to be put on a small skyrocket , which will be sent into Mars Orbit , roll up , and brought   back to Earth .

“ There is no question that for a global scientist , the prospect to fetch pristine , cautiously chosen samples of the Red Planet back to Earth for scrutiny using the best facilities is a mouth - tearing candidate , "   David Parker , ESA ’s Director of Human and Robotic Exploration , said in astatement . " reconstruct the history of Mars and answering questions of its past are only two areas of discovery that will be dramatically further by such a mission . ”

ESA and NASA might have engender the ball roll on this project , but they have n’t formed an sole partnership . Both agencies are design to connect and collaborate with other infinite agencies   and private fellowship .

“ The challenges of going to Mars and back demand that they are addressed by an international and commercial-grade partnership – the best of the best , "   Parker add . " At ESA , with our 22 appendage states and further cooperating pardner , international cooperation is part of our DNA . ”

Although there is no fixed schedule for this task , the mission in the works in spades creates the possibility of let pieces of Mars on Earth in the very penny-pinching future .