The Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa2 succeeds in "bombarding" the asteroid



[ad_1]

The Japanese space shuttle Hayabusa2 has managed to "bombard" the asteroid Ryugu in the name of scientific research.

JAXA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, reported that Hayabusa2 had dropped a small explosive box that was sending a ball of copper the size of a baseball hitting the asteroid and that the data confirmed that the probe had been properly evacuated and remained intact.

The JAXA subsequently confirmed the impact of images transmitted by a camera left by the spacecraft that showed the small impactor reported (SCI) being released and fine particles spraying later. dozens of meters from a point located on the asteroid.

THE SPACE "DUMPLING" APPOINTMENT: THE HAYABUSA2 SPATIAL VACATION OF JAPAN ARRIVES AT THE ASTEROID RYUGU

Hayabusa2 is working normally, confirmed JAXA in a statement.

This image published by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) shows the Ryugu asteroid on Friday, April 5, 2019.

This image published by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) shows the Ryugu asteroid on Friday, April 5, 2019.
(JAXA via AP)

"This is the first experience of collision with an asteroid in the world! In the future, we will examine the crater formed and the way the ejector has dispersed, "tweeted JAXA on Friday.

This daring experience has garnered much praise on social media.

GIANT ASTEROIDS ARE MORE DIFFICULT TO EXPLODE THAT WE DO NOT THINK, SAYS THE SCIENTISTS

The JAXA plans to return Hayabusa2, which has been moved from the other side of the asteroid, to the site once the dust and debris have settled down to allow observation and collect of samples of materials from the new crater that have not been exposed to the sun or the rays of space. Scientists hope the samples will help them understand the history of the solar system because asteroids are left behind by the material that formed them.

This image captured by the separate Hayabusa2 camera (DCAM3) shows an ejection of the Ryugu surface, caused by the collision between the SCI and Ryugu.

This image captured by the separate Hayabusa2 camera (DCAM3) shows an ejection of the Ryugu surface, caused by the collision between the SCI and Ryugu.

If the recovery attempt succeeds, it would be the first time that such samples would be collected. In 2005, during a "deep impact" mission on a comet, NASA observed fragments after blasting but did not collect them.

Last month, JAXA announced that a group of scientists participating in the Hayabusa2 mission had detected hydroxylated minerals on the asteroid by analyzing near-infrared spectrometer readings made by the satellite. It said it could help explain where the water from the Earth came from. The findings were published in the online edition of Science magazine.

ANCIENT ASTEROID STRIKES ON MARCH MAY HAVE "PRODUCED KEY INGREDIENTS FOR LIFE"

In February, Hayabusa2 briefly touched Ryugu and fired a "ball" of scientific research into space rock.

This image released by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) shows an explosive dropped from the Hayabusa2 spacecraft to create a crater on the Ryugu asteroid Friday, April 5, 2019. The Japanese space agency JAXA has announced that his spacecraft Hayabusa2 had dumped the "small impactor" handbag on the asteroid and collected its underground samples to find clues about the origin of the solar system.

This image released by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) shows an explosive dropped from the Hayabusa2 spacecraft to create a crater on the Ryugu asteroid Friday, April 5, 2019. The Japanese space agency JAXA has announced that his spacecraft Hayabusa2 had dumped the "small impactor" handbag on the asteroid and collected its underground samples to find clues about the origin of the solar system.

Launched on December 3, 2014, Hayabusa2 arrived in Ryugu on June 27, 2018, when the asteroid was nearly 170 million kilometers from Earth. The probe traveled nearly 2 billion kilometers to reach the space rock.

The asteroid, named Ryugu after an underwater palace in a Japanese tale, is currently about 180 million kilometers from Earth.

WATER ON THE ASTEROID BENNU COULD MEAN PAY DUST & # 39; FOR THE MINORS OF SPACE

In September, Hayabusa2 landed two MINERVA-II1 rovers on the Ryugu space rocker.

In this computer graphics image published by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the spacecraft Hayabusa2 is seen above the asteroid Ryugu.

In this computer graphics image published by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the spacecraft Hayabusa2 is seen above the asteroid Ryugu.
((ISAS / JAXA via AP)

The superb images taken by the rovers revealed the surface of the "dumpless" asteroid, whose diameter does not exceed 90 meters.

Hayabusa2 is expected to leave Ryugu at the end of 2019 and return to Earth by the end of 2020.

HOW MUCH WATER CAN BE RECOVERED IN ASTEROIDS NEAR?

The spacecraft is Hayabusa's successor to JAXA, which landed on the asteroid Itokawa in November 2005. Despite persistent problems, the mission collected a number of asteroid samples that returned to Earth with Hayabusa. in June 2010.

Members of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, seen on the screen, celebrate the event as the Hayabusa2 space shuttle was safely evacuated and remained intact after the blast, to Sagamihara, near Tokyo, on Friday, April 5, 2019.

Members of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, seen on the screen, celebrate the event as the Hayabusa2 space shuttle was safely evacuated and remained intact after the blast, to Sagamihara, near Tokyo, on Friday, April 5, 2019.
(Daisuke Suzuki / Kyodo News via AP)

NASA also conducts amazing research on asteroids. The space agency OSIRIS-REx spacecraft reached the asteroid Bennu on December 3, 2018, after traveling more than one billion kilometers in space.

The asteroid could provide answers to the origin of our solar system, according to NASA.

OSIRIS-REx, meaning Origins, spectral interpretation, resource identification, Security-Regolith Explorer, was launched in September 2016 from Cape Canaveral Air Base.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

REPORT - On February 22, 2019, a file image published by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) shows the center, center, shadow of the Hayabusa2 probe after it successfully hit the asteroid Ryugu.

REPORT – On February 22, 2019, a file image published by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) shows the center, center, shadow of the Hayabusa2 probe after it successfully hit the asteroid Ryugu.
(JAXA via AP, File)

The spacecraft is currently studying space rock from orbit, recently helping scientists identify the water trapped in the asteroid clay. The probe must briefly touch the asteroid with a robotic arm in July 2020 and recover a sample that will be sent back to Earth in September 2023.

Jennifer Earl, Chris Ciaccia, Fox News and Associated Press contributed to this article.

Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers

[ad_2]

Source link