Chapter 14 - Collection of samples

Abstract

Sample return gives an added value to study the Solar System with respect to in-situ space missions, because: 1) the available laboratory analytical techniques are not limited by resources imposed by spacecraft operations; 2) the returned samples are available long after the end of the space mission, taking advantage of laboratory analytical techniques improvement. However, these advantages have to be “conquered” overcoming the technical challenges of target proximity operations and sampling mechanisms.