NASA is set to convene an independent review board for its Mars Sample Return (MSR) Program. The board will review current plans and goals for the mission, which will involve bringing samples of rock and soil from Mars to Earth for study. MSR is a partnership with the European Space Agency and would be the first mission to return samples from another planet. The review board will provide an assessment of the current status and recommendations for maximizing the probability of mission success. The board will include experts in relevant science, technical and programmatic fields and is expected to produce a final report in late August.
