Sample return mission

A sample return mission is a scientific endeavor where spacecraft travel to a celestial body, such as a comet, asteroid, or another planet, to collect physical material, like rocks or soil. Once collected, these samples are brought back to Earth for detailed analysis in laboratories. Studying these samples helps scientists learn about the origins of the solar system, the formation of planets, and potentially the presence of life beyond Earth. Notable examples include NASA's Apollo missions that returned lunar samples and the recent Mars rover missions planning to bring Martian soil back to Earth.