NASA wants to be the first to launch a rocket from another planet by 2026
So far noone has launched a rocket from anywhere other than Earth, and now NASA has plans to be the first to launch from another planet, Mars.
Key takeaways
- According to SlashGear the Perseverance rover, which is currently rolling its way on the surface of the red planet, will collect samples as part of its mission before sealing them in a tube.
- Rather than bringing them back home to Earth, these tubes will stay on Mars.
- Afterward, a spacecraft grabs it and brings it back to Earth.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2022) 'NASA wants to be the first to launch a rocket from another planet by 2026', 311 Institute, 1 March. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/nasa-wants-to-be-the-first-to-launch-a-rocket-from-another-planet-by-2026/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
It’s the year 2022, and science still hasn’t caught up to most of the things that sci-fi told us would be commonplace in the 21st century. No silver lamé clothes. And no spaceships routinely launching from other planets. However, it looks like we might have that last one becoming reality pretty soon after NASA has announced plans to launch samples from the surface of the planet Mars using a rocket which would officially make it the first-ever launch taking place from another world.
According to SlashGear the Perseverance rover, which is currently rolling its way on the surface of the red planet, will collect samples as part of its mission before sealing them in a tube. Rather than bringing them back home to Earth, these tubes will stay on Mars. At least until a future rover collects them and takes them to a launch site. From there, it will rocket the samples into orbit. Afterward, a spacecraft grabs it and brings it back to Earth.
Lockheed Martin is helping NASA with this particular mission. The space agency recently awarded it a contract to build the Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) carrying samples into orbit. Creating this MAV is proving to be quite the challenge, however. For starters, it has the basic obstacles of creating a vehicle that survives that brutal terrain of Mars. This includes the freezing temperatures and the constant dust storms. Not to mention the low amount of oxygen in the atmosphere. And the MAV needs to be small enough to fit into the Sample Retrieval Lander carrying it to Mars
NASA and Lockheed hope to make the Mars launch happen by 2026, a mere four years away. Hopefully, this is all a big step in perfecting technology that will have actual humans set foot on Mars even though the dates for a manned NASA Mars mission keep getting pushed further and further back. But it will be a day that will, hopefully, unite humanity in a way we haven’t seen in decades, since the long-ago days of the Apollo missions.
What this means for your organisation
Extreme engineering drives new skills.
A rocket that survives freezing cold, dust storms and thin air must be small and robust. Those design lessons feed back into harsh environment products here.
Sample return builds a supply chain.
Rovers, landers, ascent vehicles and orbiters must work in sequence. Firms that can deliver reliable parts for such chains win long term contracts.
Human missions depend on this step.
Proving launch from Mars is a building block for crewed missions. Leaders in space supply should plan for a longer, larger programme.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- Could our materials or systems survive extreme off world conditions?
- Which space supply chains could we join as a supplier?
- What harsh environment products could benefit from Mars engineering?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
So far noone has launched a rocket from anywhere other than Earth, and now NASA has plans to be the first to launch from another planet, Mars.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
Read full bio
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder, President and Futurist of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity programme, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Sources and further reading
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 1 March 2022. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2022). NASA wants to be the first to launch a rocket from another planet by 2026. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/nasa-wants-to-be-the-first-to-launch-a-rocket-from-another-planet-by-2026/
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