White Paper on the Case for Landed Mercury Science

TL;DR

This paper advocates for prioritizing landed Mercury exploration as a multi-mission effort, emphasizing collaboration with exoplanet research and establishing clear scientific goals for future missions.

Contribution

It proposes specific scientific priorities and promotes a collaborative, multi-generational approach to Mercury exploration.

Findings

Landed Mercury exploration should be a high scientific priority.

Collaboration with exoplanet investigations can enhance Mercury science.

A multi-mission, multi-generational strategy is essential for Mercury exploration.

Abstract

We advocate for establishing key scientific priorities for the future of Mercury exploration, including the development of specific science goals for a landed mission. We support the Mercury science community in fostering closer collaboration with ongoing and planned exoplanet investigations. The continued exploration of Mercury should be conceived as a multi-mission, multi-generational effort, and that the landed exploration of Mercury be a high scientific priority in the coming decade.