The Perseverance rover began a two-year mission to collect Martian soil samples this year. It's the first of three missions, jointly sponsored by NASA and ESA, aiming to bring Martian soil back to Earth in hopes of finding evidence of past life. The total costs of the missions will likely exceed more than $9 billion. MORE SO EXPENSIVE VIDEOS: Why Japanese Eel Is So Expensive https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4URGc_3FrE Why Black Opal Is So Expensive https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RA9wxEbnhVU Why Ceylon Cinnamon Is So Expensive https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mn6650M3M-U ------------------------------------------------------ #Mars #Space #BusinessInsider Business Insider tells you all you need to know about business, finance, tech, retail, and more. Visit us at: https://www.businessinsider.com/ Subscribe: null BI on Facebook: https://read.bi/2xOcEcj BI on Instagram: https://read.bi/2Q2D29T BI on Twitter: https://read.bi/2xCnzGF BI on Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/discover/Business_Insider/5319643143 Boot Camp on Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/discover/Boot_Camp/3383377771 Why Two Pounds Of Dirt From Mars Costs $9 Billion | So Expensive | Insider