Forum on "Roads towards Sample Return from Comets and Asteroids" successfully held at ISSI-BJ
The populations of Small Bodies, in particular comets and asteroids, are the last witnesses of the origin and early evolution of the Solar System and of the formation scenarios of its planets. Collecting samples from these objects to analyze them using the powerful analytic tools available in our Earth-based laboratories is one of the most promising ways of reading the early History of our Solar System to learn about our own origins. This is the reason why several space-faring nations, mainly the United States, Japan and Europe, have programmed sample return missions from these bodies for the coming decade, in complement to remote-sensing and in-situ-analysis space missions. Among them, China prepares to select and fly a full-scale sample return mission from a small body as a component of its 14th five-year plan for priority space science missions. The main objective of the forum was to place this initiative in the broadest possible scientific and international context, so as to produce good advice to the teams which are actively preparing this mission.
In this perspective, the first task of the forum participants was to discuss in detail the science drivers and the key objectives to be assigned to sample collection and analysis (photo 2).
The forum then proceeded to a comprehensive review of sample return missions, from already flown ones (Stardust and Hayabusa), through those which have been selected or pre-selected for flight (Hayabusa-2, MMX, Osirix-Rex, DESTINY+) to the new mission candidates.
In this last category, four very promising mission objectives and scenarios currently elaborated by teams of Chinese scientists and engineers were presented and discussed, together with the SPS-Trojans mission study of JAXA. The different Chinese proponents were encouraged to continue to work together towards the emergence of one favorite mission that will guarantee the best science return.
Photo 3: Prof. LIN Yangting of the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, CAS (Beijing, China) tells the audience how a sample return from a near-Earth asteroid, like the one described in his PANGU proposal, will open a new window on the still poorly known first 10 million years of the Solar System History, during which giant and terrestrial planets started to assemble.
The morning of the second day was devoted to a review of the basic technologies needed for a technology missions, and of their constraints on the design of flight platforms, building on the lessons learnt from previous missions to small bodies, particularly ESA’s Rosetta and its Philae lander, and on the potential interest of some innovative technical approaches.
Photo 4: Dr. Daniel Hestroffer (IMCCE, Paris Observatory) presents to the audience the potential applications of small and mini satellites to the scientific exploration of small bodies.
The whole afternoon of the second day was devoted to live discussions between the forum participants of all countries, building on a tentative synthesis by Prof. Wing Ip of NCU, Taiwan and moderated by Prof. Masaki Fujimoto of ISAS/JAXA, which aimed at elaborating conclusions and recommendations. The final version of these conclusions, to be be published in our Taikong magazine by the middle of this year, will contribute to the exciting objective of preparing a major contributionThe whole afternoon of the second day was devoted to live discussions between the forum participants of all countries, building on a tentative synthesis by Prof. Wing Ip of NCU, Taiwan and moderated by Prof. Masaki Fujimoto of ISAS/JAXA, which aimed at elaborating conclusions and recommendations. The final version of these conclusions, to be be published in our Taikong magazine by the middle of this year, will contribute to the exciting objective of preparing a major contribution of China to the study of the small bodies of the solar system.he study of the small bodies of the solar system.
