Project Overview Michael Amato NASA GSFC
CAESAR Project and GSFC, Cornell, and other partner proprietary and copyright Information CAESAR
The CAESAR (Comet Astrobiology Exploration SAmple Return) mission is one of two New Frontiers missions selected for Phase A. CAESAR will acquire a sample from the nucleus of comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko, returning it safely to Earth.
Comets are made up of materials from ancient stars, interstellar clouds, and the birth of our solar system.
The CAESAR sample will reveal how these materials contributed to the early Earth, including the origins of the Earth's oceans, and of life
The CAESAR mission seeks to return this sample from 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, a comet that was successfully explored by the European Space Agency’s Rosetta spacecraft, to determine its origin and history.
• PI Steve Squyres of Cornell University • CAESAR would be managed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
CAESAR Project and GSFC, Cornell, and other partner proprietary and copyright Information CAESAR Sample Science
CAESAR Project and GSFC, Cornell, and other partner proprietary and copyright Information Churyumov-Gerasimenko
CAESAR Project and GSFC, Cornell, and other partner proprietary and copyright Information The CAESAR Spacecraft
GSFC Restore-L EDU arm NEXT-C Ion Thruster
CAESAR Project and GSFC, Cornell, and other partner proprietary and copyright Information Mission Timeline
2024 2026 2028 2030 2032 2034 2036 2038
Comet Ops
SEP Cruise to 67P SEP Return to Earth
Launch August 2024 Launch Arrive at Comet March 2029 Depart Comet November 2033 Earth Return November 2038
CAESAR Project and GSFC, Cornell, and other partner proprietary and copyright Information CAESAR Trajectory
Outbound Inbound
Launch 8/15/24 Earth Return 67P Arrival 67P Departure 11/20/38 Earth Flyby 3/26/29 11/6/33 Earth Flyby 11/26/25 11/23/37 CAESAR Project and GSFC, Cornell, and other partner proprietary and copyright Information CAESAR Mission Operations Phases
Initial Survey Detailed Survey Light Touch Operations
CAESAR Project and GSFC, Cornell, and other partner proprietary and copyright Information CAESAR Preliminary Touch Site Selection
CAESAR Project and GSFC, Cornell, and other partner proprietary and copyright Information CAESAR Sample Touch Operations Slew to TAG Attitude Traj. Interface Point Altitude
TIP, CP, and MP Δv’s 300m updated based on current nav state
Checkpoint 150m
Range coridor monitored by LRF after TIP Matchpoint 50m Onboard navigation solution running continuously based on image data (1 image/minute, TBD) 0m
10 km De-Orbit Maneuver TAG Timeline T–5 hrs T–30 mins T–20 mins T–10 mins T–0 mins
Δt=4.5 hrs Δt=10 mins Δt=10 mins Δt=10 mins
DOI TIP CP MP TAG
CAESAR Project and GSFC, Cornell, and other partner proprietary and copyright Information CAESAR Sample Acquisition System
CAESAR Project and GSFC, Cornell, and other partner proprietary and copyright Information CAESAR Sample Containment System
CAESAR
CAESAR Project and GSFC, Cornell, and other partner proprietary and copyright Information CAESAR Gas Containment System
GSFC
CAESAR Project and GSFC, Cornell, and other partner proprietary and copyright Information CAESAR Sample Return Capsule
Stowed Sample Container
CAESAR Project and GSFC, Cornell, and other partner proprietary and copyright Information CAESAR Sample Return Capsule
CAESAR Project and GSFC, Cornell, and other partner proprietary and copyright Information CAESAR Sample Touch Operations
CAESAR Project and GSFC, Cornell, and other partner proprietary and copyright Information BACK Up
CAESAR Project and GSFC, Cornell, and other partner proprietary and copyright Information SRC Recovery
CAESAR Project and GSFC, Cornell, and other partner proprietary and copyright Information