1. The Case for Non-Cryogenic Comet Nucleus Sample Return
- Author
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Scott A. Sandford, Neil Dello Russo, Jason P. Dworkin, Jason M. Soderblom, Jessica M. Sunshine, Samuel Birch, Kenton Fisher, Lisa F. Pace, Steven W. Squyres, Michael J. Mumma, Simon J. Clemett, Nancy L. Chabot, Mathieu Choukroun, Ann N. Nguyen, D. Bodewits, Keiko Nakamura-Messenger, Meenakshi Wadhwa, Alexander Hayes, Julie L. Mitchell, Perry A. Gerakines, Carol A. Raymond, Daniel P. Glavin, Larry R. Nittler, Maitrayee Bose, and Jamie E. Elsila
- Subjects
Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP) ,Physics ,Solar System ,Nebula ,Comet ,FOS: Physical sciences ,Early Earth ,Astrobiology ,Organic molecules ,Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics ,Planet ,Comet nucleus ,Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics ,Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics (astro-ph.IM) ,Solar and Stellar Astrophysics (astro-ph.SR) ,Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics - Abstract
Comets hold answers to mysteries of the Solar System by recording presolar history, the initial states of planet formation and prebiotic organics and volatiles to the early Earth. Analysis of returned samples from a comet nucleus will provide unparalleled knowledge about the Solar System starting materials and how they came together to form planets and give rise to life: 1. How did comets form? 2. Is comet material primordial, or has it undergone a complex alteration history? 3. Does aqueous alteration occur in comets? 4. What is the composition of cometary organics? 5. Did comets supply a substantial fraction of Earth's volatiles? 6. Did cometary organics contribute to the homochirality in life on Earth? 7. How do complex organic molecules form and evolve in interstellar, nebular, and planetary environments? 8. What can comets tell us about the mixing of materials in the protosolar nebula?, Comment: White Paper submitted to the Planetary Science Decadal Survey 2023-2032 reflecting the viewpoints of three New Frontiers comet sample return missions proposal teams, CAESAR, CONDOR, and CORSAIR
- Published
- 2021
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