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Which of these is not an active, current NASA mission to Mars? Reconnaissance Orbiter, Insight, MAVEN, or Sample Return.
The key word here is active. Mars Sample Return is a proposed mission but it hasn't gotten off the ground yet.
Counting its rovers, its lander, its work with the European Space Agency and its orbiters. The spacecraft zipping around Mars, NASA says it currently has eight active missions to the red planet.
On Monday morning, Earth time at 3:30 eastern, the small Ingenuity helicopter was set to make its first attempt to fly on the red planet if all went according to plan. Factoring in its construction and operation, the drone cost $85 million, one example of how expensive it is to experiment on Mars.
And critics of Mars exploration say NASA should focus on finding solutions to life on Earth, instead of looking to establish new life or research on the red planet. But for scientists, the Mars allure is undeniable.
