[ad_1]
What do you know about these innumerable isolated asteroids scattered in our universe? Aside from an asteroid impact, causing the chain reaction that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years agoAsteroids are very important to our overall understanding of the universe.
Asteroids tell us more about the origins of life and those of our solar system. Even asteroids close to the Earth could possibly be exploited for precious metals. according to Carol Raymond, Assistant Principal Investigator of NASA's Dawn mission, "The materials contained in asteroids represent the building blocks of planets."
RELATED: HAYABUSA2 SPACE PROBE SET TO COLLECT SAMPLES FROM RYUGU ASTEROID
At another historic moment on Wednesday, the Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa2 landed successfully on the asteroid Ryugu.
The Japanese Hayabusa2: stick to the landing
Launched by JAXA or the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency in December 2014, the mission aimed to collect samples of the asteroid of half a mile in diameter. As mentioned above, Ryugu is a carbon-rich rock that could shed more light on the history of our solar system.
However, there is much more to this story. The last time the Japanese probe Hayabusa2 made headlines, it was when she blew up a crater in Ryugu in April. By using a multitude of explosives and a bullet-shaped projectile, Hayabusa2 was able to release many potential rock samples. After successfully landing on the asteroid, the probe took samples and returned to a safe position over Ryugu.
Hayabusa2 will return to Earth with samples collected by the end of the year.
Understand the mission
So, why are we in space photographing asteroids? If you did not already know, Hayabusa2 had already landed briefly on Ryugu in February of this year to collect samples. Yet, these materials have been exposed to the "weather conditions" of the solar system.
[PPTD] These images were taken immediately after today's touchdown (July 11th) with the ONC-W1. The first picture was taken at 10:06:32 JST (edge time) and you can see the gravel flying up. The second shot was at 10:08:53 where the darker area near the center is due to touchdown. pic.twitter.com/6OhrYShz4D
– HAYABUSA2 @ JAXA (@ haya2e_jaxa) July 11, 2019
[PPTD] Thank you for your support around the world! Everyone in the control room prepares a happy V-sign for the second touchdown! pic.twitter.com/YUz7sVmQPb
– HAYABUSA2 @ JAXA (@ haya2e_jaxa) July 11, 2019
the 6-10 feet Hayabusa2 offers researchers a detailed overview of the asteroid as well as indications of how other potential asteroids, such as Ryugu, respond to collision with objects.
The asteroid is also special because it's a carbon, asteroid. This means that the asteroid is full of carbon molecules called organic matter; amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. Asteroids like these could have carried the building blocks needed on Earth to create life.
You did it!
Congratulations to the entire Hayabusa2 team from us at OSIRIS-REx. pic.twitter.com/WEstYDid9W
– OSIRIS-REx from NASA (@OSIRISREx) July 11, 2019
The landing was short and fast, but risky. Mission officials took a long time to assess Hayabusa2 's landing risk on the asteroid.
Several space agencies, including NASA, are planning such missions in the near future.
[ad_2]
Source link