Mars sample return missions. Illustration of various stages of a proposed Mars sample return mission. This is designed to return a sample to Earth (right) from Mars (left, distances not to scale). NASA and the European Space Agency are collaborating on proposals for missions to gather samples of Martian rocks and bring them to Earth after 2020. These missions include Mars 2020, Sample Retrieval Lander, Sample Fetch Rover, Mars Ascent Vehicle (left), and Earth Return Orbiter (centre). The Mars sample canister (upper centre) and the Earth entry capsule (centre right) are also shown.