Sample Return Missions: Rosetta Stones Returned from the First Small Bodies in the Solar System

Monday 2 Mar 2026, 14:45 → 15:00 Europe/Rome

Aula Rosino (Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia - Edificio ex-Rizzato)

Speakers: Andrea Farina (Università degli Studi di Padova)

 

It is now possible to bring back samples from planetary bodies of the Solar System other than the moon. This research method enables a direct link between astronomical observations and meteorite analyses, which were previously disconnected. The Hayabusa, Hayabusa2, and OSIRIS REx sample return missions have provided detailed information on the composition of S-, C-, and B-type asteroids, respectively, and the processes by which they were formed. This paper reviews the results of these three asteroid sample return missions, and also introduces the next Martian moon sample return mission MMX. Although sample returns are currently achieved only from near-Earth objects in the Solar System, it is hoped that in the future it will be possible to collect samples from outer Solar System objects and even from small objects flying from outside the Solar System.

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