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Assessment of Solar System Exploration Programs--1991 (1991) / Chapter Skim
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4 Exploration of Primitive Solar-System Bodies
Pages 15-18

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From page 15...
... , COMPLEX established the scientific goals and objectives and related program requirements. SCIENCE OBJECTIVES COMPLEX recommends that the primary goal of investigation of REPORT MENU asteroids, comets, and dust, during approximately the next decade, be to NOTICE determine their composition and structure and to deduce their history in order to MEMBERSHIP increase our knowledge of the chemical and isotopic composition and physical FOREWORD state of the primitive solar nebula and to further our understanding of the SUMMARY condensation, accretion, and evolutionary processes that occurred in various CHAPTER 1 parts of the solar system before and during planet formation.
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From page 16...
... The 1990 deselection of the CRAF penetrator experiment requires continuing attention to alternative means of directly sampling a comet nucleus. The completion of this goal may still require acquiring and returning a sample of a cometary nucleus in some future mission.
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From page 17...
... Continued support for ground-based studies of asteroids will enable additional advances in our understanding of asteroids in preparation for future flight missions. Meteorites, Interplanetary Dust, and Meteors Because meteorite studies are intimately related to studies of asteroids and comets, COMPLEX recommended in its 1980 report "that a vigorous file:///C|/SSB_old_web/ssep91ch4.htm (3 of 5)
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From page 18...
... In this regard, the Origins of Solar Systems Program could be instrumental in deciphering the origins of primitive bodies. COMPLEX also recommended that, "to realize the full promise of meteorite research it is necessary to maintain laboratory capabilities at the highest level of evolving technology and to encourage the development of even more sophisticated analytical methods." Although several new techniques have been applied to meteorite research during the past several years, the lack of growth in the R&A budget has inhibited instrument development and has prevented significant upgrading of existing instruments.
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Key Terms

  • primitive bodies
  • meteorite research
  • primitive solar
  • exogenic processes
  • asteroid belt

  • crustal structure
  • laboratory capabilities
  • cometary atmosphere
  • collisional modeling
  • experiments including

  • requires continuing
  • spacecraft missions
  • japanese spacecraft
  • atmospheric composition
  • comet nucleus

  • concerning interiors
  • committee anticipates
  • sophisticated analytical
  • wind interactions
  • alternative means

  • orbit telescopic
  • provided information
  • experiment requires
  • evidence concerning
  • discussing future

  • measurement requirements
  • carefully chosen
  • dynamical processes
  • asteroids selected
  • complex recommends


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