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Comet coma sample return instrumentThe sample collection technology and instrument concept for the Sample of Comet Coma Earth Return Mission (SOCCER) are described. The scientific goals of this Flyby Sample Return are to return to coma dust and volatile samples from a known comet source, which will permit accurate elemental and isotopic measurements for thousands of individual solid particles and volatiles, detailed analysis of the dust structure, morphology, and mineralogy of the intact samples, and identification of the biogenic elements or compounds in the solid and volatile samples. Having these intact samples, morphologic, petrographic, and phase structural features can be determined. Information on dust particle size, shape, and density can be ascertained by analyzing penetration holes and tracks in the capture medium. Time and spatial data of dust capture will provide understanding of the flux dynamics of the coma and the jets. Additional information will include the identification of cosmic ray tracks in the cometary grains, which can provide a particle's process history and perhaps even the age of the comet. The measurements will be made with the same equipment used for studying micrometeorites for decades past; hence, the results can be directly compared without extrapolation or modification. The data will provide a powerful and direct technique for comparing the cometary samples with all known types of meteorites and interplanetary dust. This sample collection system will provide the first sample return from a specifically identified primitive body and will allow, for the first time, a direct method of matching meteoritic materials captured on Earth with known parent bodies.
Document ID
19950012758
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Albee, A. L.
(California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Brownlee, Don E.
(Washington Univ. Seattle, WA., United States)
Burnett, Donald S.
(California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Tsou, Peter
(Jet Propulsion Lab. California Inst. of Tech., Pasadena, CA., United States)
Uesugi, K. T.
(Tokyo Univ. Sagamihara, Japan)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1994
Publication Information
Publication: Lunar and Planetary Inst., Workshop on Particle Capture, Recovery and Velocity(Trajectory Measurement Technologies
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
95N19173
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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