Advances in Site Selection Methods of Asteroid Sample Return Missions

Abstract:

This paper reviews the site selection methods on the issues of the asteroid sample return missions， and expounds the process of selecting the final sampling area L08-E1 and Nightingale area from the primary candidate sampling areas in Hayabusa2 of Japan and the OSIRIS-REx sample return missions of the US. The analysis method of engineering and scientific value factors involved in sampling site selection and the selection process of other asteroid attachment missions are introduced. Thebasic methods of each site selection factor for the previous steroid sample return missions is expounded， the comparative relationship between the sampling site selection of Hayabusa2 and OSIRIS-REx is discussed from the perspective of probe load， site selection process， methods and results， the reference significance of the existing asteroid sampling site selection method for China’s asteroid sample return site mission is proposed combining the asteroid exploration mission planning， and the future work to the site selection scheme of the asteroid sample return missions is forecasted.

Key words:asteroid;sample return;site selection method;comparative analysis