Preface to “Future of solar system exploration and cosmochemistry: Hayabusa, Kaguya, Hayabusa2 and beyond”

Abstract

Solar system exploration is a key driver for the progress in cosmochemistry. This special issue “Future of solar system exploration and cosmochemistry: Hayabusa, Kaguya, Hayabusa2 and beyond” focuses on the past, current, and future contributions of cosmochemistry to the solar system exploration. It consists of five articles covering a wide array of topics; exploration of Moon and Mars, in situ dating of surface rocks with a lander, a curation facility for extraterrestrial returned samples, and an asteroidal sample return mission “Hayabusa2.” We hope that cosmochemistry continues to contribute to, or even lead, the solar system exploration.