Mercury sample return to revolutionize our understanding of the solar system
Whitepaper #042 submitted to the Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey 2023-2032. Topics: interior evolution and volcanism; Mercury and/or the Moon; solar system formation, dynamics processes, and chronology
by Kathleen Vander Kaaden, Michelle S. Thompson, Francis M. McCubbin, Catherine L. Johnson, Carolyn M. Ernst, Nancy L. Chabot, and Paul K. Byrne
Published onMar 18, 2021
Mercury sample return to revolutionize our understanding of the solar system
Collecting a sample from the surface of Mercury and sending it to Earth for in-depth analysis would allow for transformative solar system science to be conducted. A sample from Mercury would be an invaluable scientific resource for generations to come, enabling the most sophisticated measurements to be brought to bear for decades.
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY 4.0)
