I’ve seen some of the Martian rovers are collecting samples to be sent back to Earth to determine the presence of microbes on Mars. But why do they need to be sent to Earth? Why can’t the analytical equipment on board detect it?
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I am not sure if a sample return is required to detect microbes or not.
The general idea is that the analytic equipment onboard is limited in the number of tests and what tests can be done. So if you return the sample to earth more types of analysis can be done
If you look at the website of a proposed sample return mission they describe it as the following [https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/mars-sample-return-msr](https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/mars-sample-return-msr)
>Mars Sample Return is a proposed mission to return samples from the surface of Mars to Earth. The mission would use robotic systems and a Mars ascent rocket to collect and send samples of Martian rocks, soils and atmosphere to Earth for detailed chemical and physical analysis. The mission is being planned jointly with the European Space Agency.
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