paper

A New Era in Small Body Exploration - Findings and Future

Paper number

IAC-05-P.E.7.01

Author

Dr. Hiroki Matsuo, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan

Year

2005

Abstract

Almost 20 years ago, Europe, Russia and Japan launched a fleet of spacecraft toward comet Halley. Since then, small body exploration has greatly attracted the planetary scientistsï¿½ interest and many important missions have made great steps these years. This year, Deep Impact made the first interior observation of a comet, and Hayabusa made a rendezvous with an asteroid, Itokawa. Early next year, Stardust brings to earth the coma sample of a comet for the first time. The major objective of these missions is to directly extract ancient solar system information, which the missions to the larger planets cannot disclose.
Comets and asteroids are well known as ï¿½Solar System Fossilsï¿½ that still preserve the ingredients constituting the planets. Those undifferentiated and intact characteristics have intrigued the scientistsï¿½ interest for years. With the recent and advanced technologies, the missions to those bodies now are extended to the Sample and Return flights represented by Stardust and Hayabusa from a comet and an asteroid, respectively.
This year 2005 is twentieth anniversary of the international spacecraft fleet launched toward the comet Halley in 1985. The fleet was one of the biggest international collaborations performed in interplanetary missions and it did usher in the era of small body exploration.
This Plenary event focuses the outlook for small body exploration over next two decades. It summarizes those unique missions and presents the significance of them, showing what the next step is. Small body exploration is what is inspired by the humankind eternal interest in what our world is made of and what we come from. This Plenary perfectly fits the theme of the Congress: ï¿½Space for the inspiration of Humankindï¿½
Distinguished speakers from USA, Europe and Japan will summarize their small body missions and present the major findings and discoveries obtained from them. The speakers will provide an outlook for the future missions planned or under development and describe the significance of them. Live video from ï¿½Hayabusaï¿½ operation area is available in the plenary.

Abstract document

IAC-05-P.E.7.01.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-05-P.E.7.01.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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