The concept was originally envisioned for launch in 2018 as a NASA Discovery mission, then alternatively for 2022.[30] The objectives of the mission would be to return the samples from Mars to Earth at a fraction of the cost of the NASA own return-sample mission now projected at US$6 billion.[30][31] In September 2017, Elon Musk released first prototype images of their spacesuits to be used in future missions.