Martian Regolith

The first commercially sourced Martian material available for purchase. Collected from the planet's surface, returned to Earth via ion propulsion, and delivered to you with full documentation and provenance.

What you receive

Authentic Martian regolith sourced directly from the planet's surface

Complete chain of custody documentation, tracing the material from Mars to your hands

Hermetically sealed under inert atmosphere in archival-grade containment

Certificate of authenticity accompanied by a spectroscopic analysis report

Protective outer layer included for safe handling, storage, and display

Safety and compliance

All returned samples undergo rigorous analysis at a BSL-4 (Biosafety Level 4) containment facility before release. The specific facility may vary based on availability, though will be located in the United States or Canada. All BSL-4 laboratories operate under strict, internationally recognized quality assurance and biosafety standards. This process ensures complete characterization and confirms the material is safe for handling outside of controlled laboratory environments.

Final delivery of samples is contingent on confirmation that the material poses no biological or ecological risk to life on Earth. Samples must be certified free of any viable organisms, biological agents, or unknown hazards before they can be cleared for release from containment. This review is conducted in coordination with U.S. government regulatory bodies.

Full toxicity characterization will only be possible once material is physically on Earth, and we will publish detailed handling guidance at that time. Every sample ships with a protective outer layer and should be handled with gloves, similar to how you would handle any fine mineral specimen. Direct skin contact is not advised, as Martian regolith may contain heavy metals and other compounds with unknown dermal effects.

Keep the material away from food, drink, unsupervised children, and pets. The sample can remain inside its containment vessel indefinitely without any loss of integrity or value.

Samples will ship with appropriate hazard and handling disclosures in compliance with applicable U.S. federal and state regulations. This is standard practice for products containing naturally occurring minerals and metals, and is not unique to extraterrestrial material.

All sample sales are subject to U.S. export control regulations, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and, where applicable, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Samples may not be sold, transferred, or shipped to embargoed destinations or sanctioned parties. Ion Microsystems will remain compliance with all applicable U.S. Department of Commerce, Department of State, and OFAC requirements.

Return Mission Launch

Q3 2031

Planned Pricing

Pricing details will be finalized closer to launch. Register your interest below to stay informed.

$600 /mg

Anticipated price per milligram

Minimum sample size 1 mg

Example

5 mg sample $3,000 total

Pricing is subject to change and will be finalized closer to launch. Estimated delivery: 2034 - 2035.

Ion propulsion,
redefined

Our advanced ion thrusters achieve specific impulse roughly eight times greater than conventional chemical rockets. This leap in efficiency transforms Mars sample return from a multi-billion-dollar government endeavor into a viable commercial pursuit.

With launch windows available every quarter rather than every twenty-six months, Ion operates on its own schedule, not the constraints of orbital mechanics.

Propulsion Efficiency

Higher specific impulse than chemical propulsion, enabling cost-effective deep space return trajectories.

Launch Cadence

Quarterly

No dependence on infrequent Mars transfer windows. Continuous low-thrust spirals allow flexible departure scheduling.

Sample Integrity

Pristine

Gentle, continuous acceleration preserves sample composition and structure, unlike the high-g forces of chemical rockets.

Common questions

Is it legal to own Martian material? +

Yes. Unlike lunar samples returned by government missions, which remain government property with very isolated exceptions (i.e. a few soviet gifts and samples mistakenly discarded by the US government), commercially sourced extraterrestrial material can be legally owned by private individuals and institutions. Ion operates under U.S. commercial space law and all applicable export control regulations.

What happens if the mission fails? +

Registering your interest carries no financial commitment. In the event of a mission failure, Ion will work with customers on a case-by-case basis regarding any future arrangements or reallocation to subsequent missions.

How is the $600/mg price determined? +

The anticipated price reflects our projected mission costs, expected yield, and the economics of ion propulsion at scale. It is designed to make Mars material accessible to serious collectors, researchers, and institutions while sustaining the program.

We do expect pricing to come down on future missions as the technology matures and we accumulate real flight data to better characterize risk. That said, we want to be clear about what early customers are actually getting: this is the first privately sourced material ever returned from another planet. That is a historic event, and it will happen exactly once. The price reflects both the genuine cost of making it happen and the extraordinary nature of what you are holding.

How much material will the first mission return? +

The first mission targets a return of approximately 1 kilogram of Martian regolith, though the actual yield will depend on sampling mechanism efficiency during surface operations. We estimate a minimum allocation pool of 100 grams. Material will be distributed across interested parties in the order that registrations are received, with any yield beyond the guaranteed minimum allocated proportionally.

Can I resell my sample? +

Once delivered, the sample is yours. Ion places no restrictions on resale, display, or research use. We do ask that the chain of custody documentation and certificate of authenticity accompany any transfer to preserve provenance.

Please note that resale to individuals, entities, or destinations in U.S. sanctioned countries is prohibited under federal export control law. This includes Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria, and other countries and regions designated by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control. A full and current list of sanctioned programs is maintained on the OFAC website. All transfers are additionally subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and applicable ITAR restrictions.

Is the sample safe to handle? +

All samples undergo rigorous biosafety analysis at a BSL-4 containment facility before release. Material will only be delivered after it has been certified free of biological hazards by U.S. regulatory bodies. Each sample ships with a protective outer layer and should be handled with gloves - similar to handling any fine mineral specimen.

Direct skin contact is not advised, as the material may contain heavy metals and other compounds with unknown dermal effects. Keep it away from food, drink, unsupervised children, and pets. The sample can remain sealed inside its containment vessel indefinitely with no loss of integrity. As with many specialty materials, samples ship with appropriate hazard disclosures in compliance with applicable regulations. One prospective customer did ask about snorting it. Please do not do that.

When can I register my interest? +

You can register your interest right now using the form below. We'll keep you informed as we finalize pricing and allocation details.

Register your interest

We're finalizing pricing and allocation details. Register now to be among the first to know when samples become available. Supply will be limited.

Get notified