MARCOPOLO-R: NEAR EARTH ASTEROID SAMPLE RETURN MISSION IN ESA ASSESSMENT STUDY PHASE

摘要

MarcoPolo-R is a sample return mission to a primitive Near-Earth Asteroid (NEA) selected in February2011 for the Assessment Study Phase in the framework of ESA's Cosmic Vision 2 program. MarcoPolo-Ris a European mission and takes advantage of three completed industrial studies. MarcoPolo-R willrendezvous with a unique kind of target, the primitive binary NEA (175706) 1996 FG3. The MarcoPolomission will scientifically characterize the binary NEA system at multiple scales, and return a uniquepristine sample to Earth unaltered by the atmospheric entry process or terrestrial weathering. The binarytarget provides enhanced science return: precise measurements of the mutual orbit and rotation state ofboth components can be used to probe higher-level harmonics of the gravitational potential, and thereforethe internal structure. The main goal of the MarcoPolo-R mission is to return unaltered NEA material fordetailed analysis in ground-based laboratories which will allow scientists to study the most primitivematerials available to investigate early Solar System formation processes.