Scientists have retrieved samples from other objects in the Solar System, including comets and asteroids. What does it take to return a piece of rock from space, and what have we learned so far?
We’ve sent robots to other worlds but the amount of science we can deploy can’t compare with the vast science labs we have on Earth. That’s why more and more missions are for a sample return.
Scientists have samples of the Sun’s solar wind, particles from a comet’s tail, a few grams from an asteroid, with more coming shortly. But there’s still no sample return from Mars. NASA & ESA have been making plans to bring sample home from Mars.
Date: September 12, 2010 Title: The Flight of Hayabusa Podcaster: Emily Lakdawalla Organization: The Planetary Society Blog - http://www.planetary.org/blog/ Description: It's been five years...