Venus Surface Sample Return

In cooperation with NASA´s Solar System Exploration Subcommittee (SSES) the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is conducting a series of studies to assess the feasibility of planetary science missions proposed for launch in the 2006-2010 time frame and to prioritize technology development steps that will enable these missions. Until recently the return of sample material from the surface of Venus was widely considered to be beyond the technological and financial capabilities of the NASA Space Science Program for this time frame, but technological and programmatic advances may now have brought such a mission within reach. This paper describes the results of a study to investigate the feasibility of various options proposed for a Venus Surface Sample Return (VSSR) Mission and to develop a mission concept to be considered in NASA´s strategic planning. Included will be discussions of the science objectives, the major system and subsystem trade-offs, and a preliminary mission concept