Astronomy & Space Science · Projected milestone

Mars samples returned to Earth

Estimated year~2031

50% by 2036 · including earlier years

The year is an editorial timing estimate. The percentage applies to occurrence by the stated deadline. These estimates are not calibrated odds.

A Chinese lander scoops Martian rock and soil and a return craft brings it to Earth labs to search for signs of ancient life.

What the forecast means

Milestone stage: milestone (legacy definition)

Completion criteria: Legacy milestone: refine the observable threshold before resolving.

This page describes a forecast, rather than an achieved result. Read the methodology and assumptions.

No individual source links are recorded for this milestone. Source coverage and review status vary across the atlas.

Dataset updated 2026-10-18. This individual record has not been separately re-reviewed.