Congress Abandons Retrieval of Martian Rocks That May Hold Evidence of Extraterrestrial Life

The US Congress has passed a NASA budget that excludes plans to retrieve Martian rocks collected by the Perseverance Rover, which may contain signs of extraterrestrial life. This decision, influenced by escalating costs and the White House's demands, has left planetary scientists disappointed. However, the budget still allocates funds for future Mars missions and the development of technologies needed for potential sample-return missions. Despite the setback, scientists remain hopeful for the possibility of discovering signs of life on Mars through the samples already collected.