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Trump's 2026 budget plan would cancel NASA's Mars Sample Return mission. Experts say that's a 'major step back'

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Mars Sample Return (MSR) project is tagged in the White House's proposed 2026 budget as "grossly over budget" MSR is not scheduled to return samples until the 2030s .

Some experts say the mission still has a wealth of scientific and spaceflight returns to offer.

Returning samples from Mars will enable "risk reduction" for human missions, one expert says.

"The Mars dream is back," views Robert Zubrin , founder of the Mars Society .

Zubrin envisions initial use of lots of robotic Mars scouts, then a robotic expedition, followed by humans to Mars .

"The underlying rationale for sending people has to be compelling enough to justify the risk to those people and the cost of the missions," says Jakosky .