Workshop Overview:
This study will evaluate the science case for, and feasibility of, returning samples from the surface, atmosphere, and/or plumes of planetary bodies all across the Solar System, from Mercury to Kuiper Belt Objects beyond Pluto’s orbit.
Through this Study Program we anticipate ultimately arriving at a prioritized list of solar system targets for sample return missions for decades to come, based on the expected science return and technology readiness, and may provide recommendations for technology developments needed to enable such missions.
This workshop will build on the first workshop held in September 2024, to advance on the following objectives:
- Review/update the science objectives, measurement and sample requirements defined for individual targets and to address broader Solar System science questions
- Review enabling propulsion technologies and mission design options as needed
- Assess potential present-day technology gaps for end-to-end sample integrity preservation, from acquisition to delivery to curation facility.
- Assess the challenges of long-term sample curation and transfer / analysis down to deep cryogenic conditions
The expected key outcomes of our workshop will be to: 1) establish a potential roadmap of sample return missions for the next decades to accomplish our science objectives, and 2) identify technology development needs (for both in-flight and on-ground technologies) to enable these missions.