12 Incredible Space Missions Set to Unravel Universe's Biggest Mysteries

3. Mars Sample Return: Fetching Red Planet Relics

Mars might be the only planet in our neighborhood that’s kept us fascinated for decades. NASA and ESA are teaming up for the Mars Sample Return mission, the first-ever attempt to bring Martian soil and rock samples back to Earth. The journey begins with NASA’s Perseverance rover, which is already roaming Jezero Crater while tucking precious samples into sealed tubes. Upcoming spacecraft will play relay: a lander to grab the samples, a rocket to blast them off Mars, and an orbiter to catch and return them home. Why all this effort? Only on Earth can we truly unlock Mars’ secrets—potential ancient life, underground water, and the processes that shaped both planets. The mission is set for launch later this decade. If all goes well, Martian rocks could be on lab benches in the early 2030s, waiting to reveal whether our red neighbor ever hosted life.