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Revolutionizing Our Understanding of the Solar System via Sample Return from Mercury

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Abstract

Data from Mariner 10, MESSENGER, and ground-based telescopic observations have facilitated great advancements towards understanding the geochemistry, geology, internal structure, exosphere, and magnetosphere of Mercury. However, there are critical science questions that can be only addressed via examination of a sample in Earth-based laboratories, where numerous highly sensitive analytical measurements are possible. Collecting a sample from the surface of Mercury and bringing it to Earth for in-depth analysis would allow for transformative Solar System science to be conducted, examining aspects of our Solar System such as the evolution of the protoplanetary disk, space weathering on airless bodies, the geochemical behavior of elements at extreme conditions, and the origin and distribution of volatiles across the terrestrial planets. Furthermore, our knowledge of Mercury’s differentiation and geochemical processes, chronology and geologic evolution, tectonism and geomechanical properties, and past and ongoing magnetism would be greatly advanced via analysis of a sample from Mercury. Although there are ample challenges and knowledge gaps associated with sample return from Mercury in terms of both spacecraft requirements and material requirements for curatorial facilities, a sample from the planet would be an invaluable scientific resource for generations to come, enabling the most sophisticated measurements to be brought to bear for decades and helping to truly unlock the mysteries of our Solar System.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dave Blewett, Steve Hauck, and Erwan Mazarico for fruitful discussions about the future exploration of Mercury and all members of the MESSENGER team for providing us with the necessary data to start thinking about Mercury sample return in detail. KVK and FMM acknowledge support from NASA’s Planetary Science Research Program. PKB acknowledges support from North Carolina State University. NLC acknowledges support from DDAP grant #NNX15AK89G. CLJ acknowledges support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. MST acknowledges support from Purdue University. We thank three anonymous reviewers for their helpful and thorough reviews of this manuscript as well as the editors for the handling of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jacobs, NASA Johnson Space Center, Mail Code XI3, Houston, TX, USA

    Kathleen E. Vander Kaaden

  2. NASA Johnson Space Center, Mail Code XI, 2101 NASA Parkway, Houston, TX, USA

    Francis M. McCubbin

  3. Planetary Research Group, Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA

    Paul K. Byrne

  4. The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, USA

    Nancy L. Chabot & Carolyn M. Ernst

  5. Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    Catherine L. Johnson

  6. Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, AZ, USA

    Catherine L. Johnson

  7. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA

    Michelle S. Thompson

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  1. Kathleen E. Vander Kaaden
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Correspondence to Kathleen E. Vander Kaaden.

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Role of Sample Return in Addressing Major Questions in Planetary Sciences

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Vander Kaaden, K.E., McCubbin, F.M., Byrne, P.K. et al. Revolutionizing Our Understanding of the Solar System via Sample Return from Mercury. Space Sci Rev 215, 49 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-019-0614-x

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