Calathus: A sample-return mission to Ceres

Gassot, Oriane; Panicucci, Paolo; Acciarini, Giacomo; Bates, H. C.; Caballero, Manel; Cambianica, Pamela; Dziewiecki, Maciej; Dionnet, Z.; Enengl, Florine; Gerig, Selina-Barbara; Hessinger, Felix; Kissick, L. E.; Novak, Moritz; Pellegrino, Carmine; Pontoni, Angèle; Ribeiro, Tânia M.; Riegler, Clemens; Berge, N.; Huber, Nikolaus; Hynek, Richard; Kędziora, B.; Martin, Maurice; Montilla, Javier Navarro

doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2020.12.050

Cited by 11 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 75 publications

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“…Large C‐complex main‐belt asteroids with ammoniated‐phyllosilicate features were proposed to have the same origin as CCs' parent bodies in our scenario. Sample return from these asteroids (e.g., from Ceres, Burbine & Greenwood, 2020; J. Castillo‐Rogez et al., 2021; Gassot et al., 2021) is ultimately needed to understand their building blocks and evolution history. The proposed scenario predicts that they would show the isotopic similarity to CCs, but not to comets.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distant Formation and Differentiation of Outer Main Belt Asteroids and Carbonaceous Chondrite Parent Bodies

et al. 2022

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Volatile compositions of asteroids provide information on the Solar System history and the origins of Earth's volatiles. Visible to near‐infrared observations at wavelengths of <2.5 µm have suggested a genetic link between outer main belt asteroids located at 2.5–4 au and carbonaceous chondrite meteorites (CCs) that show isotopic similarities to volatile elements on Earth. However, recent longer wavelength data for large outer main belt asteroids show 3.1 μm absorption features of ammoniated phyllosilicates that are absent in CCs and cannot easily form from materials stable at those present distances. Here, by combining data collected by the AKARI space telescope and hydrological, geochemical, and spectral models of water‐rock reactions, we show that the surface materials of asteroids having 3.1 μm absorption features and CCs can originate from different regions of a single, water‐rock‐differentiated parent body. Ammoniated phyllosilicates form within the water‐rich mantles of the differentiated bodies containing NH3 and CO2 under high water‐rock ratios (>4) and low temperatures (<70°C). CCs can originate from the rock‐dominated cores, that are likely to be preferentially sampled as meteorites by disruption and transport processes. Our results suggest that multiple large main belt asteroids formed beyond the NH3 and CO2 snow lines (currently >10 au) and could be transported to their current locations. Earth's high hydrogen to carbon ratio may be explained by accretion of these water‐rich progenitors.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distant Formation and Differentiation of Outer Main Belt Asteroids and Carbonaceous Chondrite Parent Bodies

et al. 2022

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“…However, only a sample return mission can fully retire questions about Ceres' origin and the habitability potential of its residual brines. A mission returning a sample from Ceres' evaporites would address crosscutting astrobiology goals pertinent to ocean worlds and is also being recommended by independent groups (Burbine & Greenwood 2020;Gassot et al 2020;Shi et al 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Science Drivers for the Future Exploration of Ceres: From Solar System Evolution to Ocean World Science

et al. 2022

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Dawn revealed that Ceres is a compelling target whose exploration pertains to many science themes. Ceres is a large ice- and organic-rich body, potentially representative of the population of objects that brought water and organics to the inner solar system, as well as a brine-rich body whose study can contribute to ocean world science. The Dawn observations have led to a renewed focus on planetary brine physics and chemistry based on the detection of many landforms built from brines or suspected to be emplaced via brine effusion. Ceres’ relative proximity to Earth and direct access to its surface of evaporites that evolved from a deep brine reservoir make this dwarf planet an appealing target for follow-up exploration. Future exploration, as described here, would address science questions pertinent to the evolution of ocean worlds and the origin of volatiles and organics in the inner solar system.

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“…A tip to the hat goes to the student participants of the Alpach summer school, who proposed a more classical dual orbiter/lander sample return mission, likely in the cost range of a NASA flagship mission or an ESA L-class mission (Gassot et al 2021).…”

Section: Mission Perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%