Mars Rocks Not Coming To Earth? Trump’s 2026 Budget Plan Could Kill This NASA Mission

A historic mission to bring Mars rocks to Earth may be cancelled under Trump’s 2026 budget proposal. Scientists call it a major step back. So, what’s really at stake for humanity’s Red Planet dreams?

NASA's Mars Perseverance rover acquired this image using its onboard Right Navigation Camera (Navcam).

Source : NASA

NASA’s most ambitious Martian science effort to date — the Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission — may never see the light of day if President Donald Trump’s proposed 2026 budget goes through. Touted as the 'Holy Grail' of Mars exploration, the mission was designed to bring carefully collected Martian soil and rock samples to Earth. But under the new budget blueprint, the plug might be pulled, reports Space.com. Issued on May 2 by the Office of Management and Budget, the