International Symposium Marco Polo and other Small Body Sample return missions
Start date: 19 May 2009
Address: Paris, France
The objectives of this second open Marco Polo workshop are to present the current status of the Marco Polo study activities within ESA and the international planning that is being put in place to make the mission happen. We also invite scientific presentations about the current state of asteroid research and sample analysis, in particular addressing the critical role played by NEO sample return missions, and presentations about possible payload elements, sampling requirements, mechanisms, and curation and analysis facilities. This workshop will provide an opportunity for the wide planetary science community to interact with the Marco Polo Science Study Team and ESA to further refine the mission's goals, its science drivers, and the required technology developments for the science payload.