NASA expects to take "one step closer to sending humans to Mars" when it starts collecting Mars samples to be sent back to Earth for analysis.
The space agency will join forces with the the European Space Agency (ESA) after the Mars Sample Return (MSR) plans were given the go-ahead.
An independent review report confirmed NASA is now ready to undertake the project to bring pristine samples from Mars to Earth for scientific study.
The rocks will be collected by NASA's Perseverance Mars rover, which was launched earlier this year and is currently headed for Mars.
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