An automatically-returned Martian sample by 1985?

The success of the lunar sample analysis programs underscores the desirability of a returned Martian sample. A Mission which would bring back about 1 kg of soil is outlined. The vehicle would have a mass of about 15 tonnes on departure from Earth and would make extensive use of Viking and Mariner technology. Russian experience in the field of automatic soil sampling and automatic rendezvous would be invaluable and the Shuttle would make possible a tidier launch. Sterilisation or quarantine will be necessary to preclude back-contamination of Earth by hypothetical Martian micro-organisms. A prime quarantine facility designed to detect biogenic organic compounds and life processes could be set up at a Lunar base or in a Sky-lab. A single soil sample could be informative as to the general surface composition of Mars. Life detection would be a major task, followed closely by the chemistry of carbon and other life-related elements. However, knowledge of the detailed physics, chemistry and mineralogy of the Martian sample would be of inestimable value to planetary studies.