This article only obliquely mentions in the last paragraphs, but there's a parallel Chinese program that recently brought back samples from the moon, and will attempt Mars sample return, launching in 2028,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tianwen-3" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tianwen-3
it's just that NASA has given up on being the one to do it first.No need to. Mars delivers:<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/20/arts/who-owns-this-chunk-of-mars-jeanine-pirro-says-america-does-now.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/20/arts/who-owns-this-chunk-...
peri-cl · · focus · HN ↗
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tianwen-3" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tianwen-3
reaperducer · · focus · HN ↗
No need to. Mars delivers:
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/20/arts/who-owns-this-chunk-of-mars-jeanine-pirro-says-america-does-now.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/20/arts/who-owns-this-chunk-...