China's Tianwen-3 mission aims for Mars soil return by 2031, outpacing NASA's delayed efforts

China's Tianwen-3 mission is set to return Martian soil by 2031, ahead of NASA's delayed sample return mission, now scheduled for 2035. NASA faces rising costs and challenges, pushing its timeline back by at least four years. NASA's estimated costs for the Mars sample return have increased from $3 billion to $11 billion. The agency has shifted its strategy, now involving private companies, to meet the new 2035 target, which could extend to 2039. China's Tianwen-3 will use a simpler "grab-and-go" method for sample collection, while NASA's Perseverance rover employs a more complex approach. Both countries are taking different strategies in their Mars missions.