In this scene, a large rover has
delivered samples back to the small rocket carried by the lander.
Known as the MAV or Mars Ascent Vehicle, it would carry samples
up to Mars orbit. At that point, it was supposed to rendezvous
automatically with a French CNES Orbiter which would fly the
samples to Earth.
This type of rover/MAV MSR mission
scenario may occur sometime in the next decade but the "Groundbreaking
MSR" is now under serious consideration for 2013 - which
would make it the first attempt at returning samples from Mars. |