Why is the SpaceIL Lunar Lander doing a one-way trip? Is that a common project to do nowadays, to send landers to Mars and the Moon without returning them?
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
4
asked Mar 12, 2019 at 14:17
-
3$\begingroup$ Maybe because of the smaller budget that drove to have a lighter payload which did not allow for extra fuel? $\endgroup$– KingsInnerSoulMar 12, 2019 at 14:20
-
3$\begingroup$ This is a "show" mission more than a scientific mission, and a successful landing and walkabout it sufficient to make it a spectacular success for a first time deep space mission for this agency. Returning to Earth is just an opportunity to fail, whereas success may bring interest in a follow-on mission. $\endgroup$– uhohMar 12, 2019 at 14:34
-
12$\begingroup$ It is very common for Mars landers not to return. In fact, it is ubiquitous. $\endgroup$– Organic MarbleMar 12, 2019 at 14:38
-
2$\begingroup$ One way trips are and have always been the norm in space exploration. The few sample return missions (mentioned by @Hobbes) are very much the exceptions. $\endgroup$– benMar 12, 2019 at 19:03
Add a comment
|
1 Answer
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
A one-way trip is much simpler and much cheaper than a return mission.
- a return mission is more complicated because it has to do more
- a return mission is much heavier (because of the extra systems, and the fuel needed for the return capsule) which means it needs a bigger launcher which is more expensive
We have had no sample return missions from any planet. There were a few from the Moon (Apollo and Luna), and a few from objects like asteroids and comets (e.g. Hayabusa).
The SpaceIL mission is a small, low-cost mission done as a technology demonstration. A return mission would have cost 10x more.
