1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to fully fund NASA's Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission and provide the necessary resources to NASA, particularly the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), to ensure America's continued leadership in space exploration. The MSR mission is facing significant delays and budget issues, which could result in the United States losing its competitive edge in a critical area of scientific discovery and geopolitical importance. China's Tianwen-3 mission is currently on track for a 2028 launch and 2031 return, potentially beating NASA in the race to bring Martian samples back to Earth. This presents a real risk of a new "Sputnik moment" that could diminish America's standing in space exploration and scientific innovation. The implications of such a loss extend beyond mere prestige; they touch on our national security, technological advancement, and economic competitiveness. The scientific value of returning Martian samples cannot be overstated. These samples could provide unprecedented evidence of past life on Mars, revolutionizing our understanding of the universe and our place in it. By fully funding the MSR mission, we ensure that American scientists will be at the forefront of these potentially world-changing discoveries. While NASA's approach is more complex and expensive than China's, it builds on our long history of Mars exploration and promises more comprehensive results. However, recent budget cuts threaten not only the MSR mission but also other critical space science programs. This shortsighted approach risks ceding our hard-won leadership in space to competitors. I urge you to take immediate action to secure full funding for the Mars Sample Return mission. This investment will maintain America's leadership in space exploration, drive technological innovation, inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers, and potentially unlock secrets about the origins of life itself. The race is on, and we must act now to ensure that the United States remains at the forefront of this new frontier in space exploration.