NASA's Mars Sample Return mission is dead: Congress backs Trump administration's efforts to kill project that would ferry martian rocks to Earth.

The article discusses the termination of NASA's Mars Sample Return (MSR) program following Congress's approval of a spending bill that aligns with the Trump administration's efforts to end the project. This decision halts the collection and return of rock samples from Mars, which were anticipated to provide significant scientific insights, including potential evidence of past life. While the MSR program is effectively canceled, the bill reallocates $110 million to a "Mars Future Missions" program, allowing for the continued development of related technologies. The article highlights concerns about the implications for U.S. leadership in space exploration, especially in light of competing efforts from other nations, such as China's Mars sample-return program. [Extracted from the article]