The exploration of the Solar System afforded by NASA programs has developed to the point where we can study the small bodies that failed to grow to large planets by sending robotic spacecraft to their vicinity.  This type of study began as the target of opportunity when the Galileo spacecraft flew through the asteroid belt on the way to Jupiter.  The Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous mission returned information about two other asteroids allowing us to bring more asteroids from the realm of the astronomer into that of the geologist.  With this perspective we study processes critical to the evolution of the Solar System.  A future mission is in development, Deep Iimpact, and is funded to fly to Comet Tempel 1 to study its interior by excavating a crater.  Dr. McFadden is a member of the NEAR and Deep Impact Science teams and will present our new perspective and knowledge on the role small bodies play in formation of the solar system.