Nasa has put its efforts to return samples of Martian soil back to Earth on hold until it can find a cheaper way to do it.

In recent years the agency has been focused on trying to determine the early history of Mars and how it can help us understand the formation and evolution of habitable worlds, including Earth.

As part of that effort, the Mars Sample Return (MSR) programme has been a long-term goal for the past two decades. Nasa’s Perseverance rover has been collecting samples for collection and return to Earth since it landed on Mars in 2021.

Nasa had planned to launch its Sample Retrieval Lander in 2028 to return the samples to Earth. The lander would be the first to bring along a rocket and two helicopters designed to send the samples into Mars’ orbit to meet the earth return orbiter, which would then take the samples the rest of the way home.

But last September, an independent review board found that the plans face serious scheduling and budget problems.

Nasa administrator Bill Nelson...