Is the US forfeiting its Red Planet leadership to China's Mars Sample Return plan?
China is planning a Mars Sample Return mission (Tianwen-3) with launches in 2028, aiming to bring at least 500 grams of Martian rock and soil to Earth by 2031. This mission includes a lander with a drill, a robotic arm, and a helicopter for sample collection from various locations and depths. The US is considering alternative approaches to Mars exploration amid budget concerns about NASA's Mars Sample Return program, potentially leading to China being the first to return Martian samples.