The delta vee for small near earth asteroids could be significantly lower than what is needed to reach Mars. If the landing is done for propaganda purposes this may be a very viable mission compared to going to Mars and coming back.

Moreover sample return missions of this kind have already taken place.

@mariopasquato The delta V isn't hugely different; once you're in low earth orbit you're halfway to anywhere. However, with asteroids you can't aerobrake, and you can't use much of an oberth maneuver to capture either, both of which significantly increase the delta V to get to orbit around one as compared to Mars. Landing and taking off is easier once you're already in orbit though. But there's not much reason to go to asteroids, and many of them are too loosely held together to safely land on, they're big rubble piles basically.

@Mqrius I am assuming you want to come back and that the mission would be a proof of concept/propaganda rather than economic exploitation one

@mariopasquato Yeah, even so I'm not convinced. It's not actually easier, just with different problems.

@Mqrius Sample return missions from asteroids have happened, from Mars not that I know

@mariopasquato True enough!

@Mqrius A mission like this one would count towards YES? https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/asteroid-redirect-robotic-mission-arrm

Asteroid Redirect Robotic Mission

NASA is developing a first-ever robotic mission to visit a large near-Earth asteroid, collect a multi-ton boulder from its surface, and redirect it into a stable orbit around the moon. Astronauts will explore it and return with samples.

@mariopasquato As far as I understand, his market is about humans setting foot somewhere, not about satellites/robots

Edit: Oh you mean after it's tugged back. Then yeah, maybe? Would be cool. I don't mind losing if they do that :D

Basically robotic mission to bring a piece of asteroid to lunar orbit, human mission to lunar orbit with minimal risks to humans. Sounds like something an emerging space power would attempt for propaganda purposes

If they land on the moon, and then they land on the moon again, does this resolve Moon?

@Mqrius no, second unique