Future Exploration of the Pluto System

The investigation of the Pluto system is far from over. Many decades of remote telescopic observation and a spectacular flyby encounter with New Horizons has transformed an unresolved dot in the sky into a complex and fascinating world. We present a discussion of future areas of investigation that will take us to the next higher level of understanding of both the system in its own right as well as how it fits into the overall story of the formation and evolution of our solar system. Groundbased and near-Earth space telescopes will continue to play an important role by extending the timebase of observation while also taking advantage of the opportunities enabled by the development of new technology. The most important follow-on investigation is a return to the system with an orbital mission. Such a mission would extend the New Horizons snapshot into a global characterization of the complex geology on all the bodies in the system, provide a more complete inventory of the surface composition, and allow a more in-depth characterization of the atmosphere and dynamics of Pluto. These examples, and more, are presented to show the scientific value of such an ambitious undertaking that fits well within the bounds of increased spacecraft capabilities soon to come and will be just as valuable in studying other Kuiper belt objects and Triton for an even broader context.