MarsDrive

When MarsDrive first formed we started a Mars Sample Return Mission Design Contest. This was meant to help stimulate research and thinking into what will be the most complex Mars mission before humans are sent to Mars. We received five entries from interested parties and over the last 18 months have watched as some amazing designs began to emerge. Today we are pleased to announce the winner and runner up for this contest. Our judges for the final phase of the contest consisted of Dr Louis Friedman, Executive Director of The Planetary Society and Dr Chris McKay of NASA Ames. They unanimously elected Kent Nebergall's design titled "Project Rigel:Mars Sample Return" As the entry that most closely met the conditions of the contest and also the updated version last year. The runner up was Terry Wilson's design "Mars Challenger".

The other entries were Csaba Boros Sample Return Mission Design, Mini MAV and Multi ERV by Ales Holub, and Mars Oracle by Eric Shear and associates. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all contest entrants for their creative work and their patience with this contest as it went through several structural changes since its inception and for the work they put into their updated designs. A sample return mission to Mars is going to be one of the most challenging projects in the exploration history of Mars and we at MarsDrive are going to be awarding Kent $500 and Terry Wilson $100 while also submitting the 2 top designs to various conferences such as the coming Mars Society conference, AIAA and to interested space agencies such as the ESA who are beginning work on investigations into Mars sample return missions. Our hope is that the work achieved here will draw us one step closer to the day humans explore Mars.