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Title: Sample Return from Primitive Asteroids and Comets
Primary Author: Scott Messenger
Secondary Author(s): Andrew Davis, George Flynn, Lindsay Keller, Allan Treiman, Meenakshi Wadhwa, Andrew Westphal
Institution: Johnson Space Center
Summary: This white paper makes the case for sample return from primitive asteroids and comets in the next decade to address some of the most important questions in planetary science relating to the origin and history (and particularly the origin and distribution of organics and water) of the Solar System.
Panel Selection: Primitive Bodies: Asteroids, comets, Phobos, Deimos, Pluto/Charon and other Kuiper belt objects, meteorites, and interplanetary dust.
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These documents have been prepared in coordination with the National Academies of Science in support of the National Academies Planetary Science Decadal Survey. These documents are being made available for information purposes only, and any views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of NASA, JPL, or the California Institute of Technology.