Overview

• NASA reported that Perseverance collected an arrow-shaped rock with chemical signatures and structures consistent with possible ancient microbial life, a finding that requires Earth-based lab analysis for confirmation.
• The Mars Sample Return program has been paused for nearly two years following an independent review that estimated costs at roughly $8 billion to $11 billion.
• Acting administrator Sean Duffy said NASA is running a new analysis of budget, timing and technology options for returning samples, offering no firm commitment on approach or schedule.
• The Trump administration proposed cutting NASA’s 2026 budget by nearly 25 percent and has sought to cancel the sample-return effort, while Duffy highlighted the president’s focus on sending crews to the Moon and eventually Mars.
• Scientists warn that canceling or further delaying sample return would be a major scientific setback and could cede a headline achievement to China, which is reportedly targeting a Mars sample-return mission as early as 2028.