Developing and Testing Planetary Sample Collection Techniques
The Importance of Planetary Sample Returns Dr. Mary Sue Bell of
NASA’s Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science
Directorate explains why it’s important to help astronauts
develop sample collection techniques during NASA's analog
missions. Why are planetary sample returns so important?
Planetary science has seen a tremendous growth in new knowledge
as a result of recent NASA robotic missions that have detected
deposits of water-ice at the moon’s poles and potential
conditions under which life could have flourished on Mars. While
some sophisticated data can be derived from “in situ”
measurements taken by rovers and satellites, returned planetary
samples allow scientists on Earth to use latest technologies
available to maximize the scientific return. The science
community has recently seen compelling sample returns, including
solar wind particles (NASA’s Genesis ), comet particles (NASA’s
Stardust ) asteroid particles (JAXA’s Hayabusa ) and Ant