Entry capsule towards Earth

The Earth Return Orbiter (ERO) is one of the flight missions making up the Mars Sample Return campaign to bring martian rock, soil and atmospheric samples back to Earth.

Having already spent three years to reach Mars and perform its rendezvous and capture mission, the Earth Return Orbiter will take a further two years to fly from its operational orbit around Mars up to escape altitude and make its way back to Earth.

When ERO is about three days from Earth, the Earth Entry System (EES) separates from the spacecraft and is placed on a precision trajectory for Earth entry and landing.

Shortly after separation, ERO performs a series of maneuvers to enter orbit around the sun, never to return to the Earth.

With the samples safely back on the ground, the EES will be transported to a specialized curation facility, where the precious Martian samples will be prepared for investigation by the best scientists and laboratories around the world. J