Why NASA looks in the Pacific Ocean for unique meteorites

On March 7, 2018, NASA global scientist Marc Fries observed a meteorological radar as meteorites plunged into the Pacific Ocean.

Four months later, on July 2, Fries and a group of marine scientists plan to fire these meteorites. – Pieces of primordial space rocks – out of the sea. Nobody has ever recovered a meteorite from the ocean before, he said. But the effort is worth it.

These particular space rocks, he says, are different.

"This one is special," Fries said in an interview. "This one is harder than your typical meteor."

The meteorite fall – one of the largest fries observed on meteorological radars dating back to the 90s – involved space rocks that do not break, crack and burn in the atmosphere as much as meteorites usually do it. But to understand exactly what they are – and where they come from – means to visit the bottom of the sea, where heavy rocks have invariably flowed.

Fortunately for NASA, an exploration vessel called the Nautilus, operated by the Ocean Exploration Trust, is coming to probe the depths of the ocean around this region this summer, off the coast. the Washington coast. Friday, Fries goes to meet the scientists aboard the Nautilus

"The goal is to find everything we can," said Nicole Raineault, marine science specialist and expedition leader Nautilus Ocean Exploration Trust. Finding meteorites lodged in the muddy bottom of the ocean can, at first glance, seem unrealistic.

But Fries reduced the meteorite drop to one square kilometer, where the ocean is about 100 feet deep.

"It's a pretty small area and quite shallow," Raineault said.

The Nautilus is equipped with high-sea robots, known as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), designed to scour the planet. ;ocean.

ROVs will be equipped with "magnetic rods" that will scan the ground for magnetic objects, as 90% of meteorites are rich in iron and magnetic. Sonar-like instruments on the ship, called backscatter, will bounce signals from the seabed to try to spot hard objects there. But in the end, Fries says that the less technologically advanced technique of watching at the bottom of the sea through the cameras of the ROV can lead the researchers. to these recently crushed space rocks.

"The best tools are the eyes," said Fries. "We are going to look for rocks that do not belong to him."

What they find could give scientists, and NASA, a better idea of ​​the type of meteorites that will inevitably continue to bomb our planet – a lot of small ones, "

" It will be important for us to know what to expect in the future, "said Fries

In 2013, an asteroid more than 50 feet in diameter and weighing some 10,000 tons struck Russia unexpectedly

. Bill Cooke, of the Meteoroid Environment Office of NASA, said after the event that the Tunguska event was the most powerful since 1908. In 1908, a big meteor burned in the Earth's atmosphere before bumping into Siberia, "releasing energy equivalent to about 185 bombs from Hiroshima," according to NASA.

Fries and Raineault seem confident to find something in the ocean – even though this feat has never been accomplished before. On the weather radar, Fries picked up a meteorite of 10 pounds and 12 centimeters in diameter. However, he notes that there could be larger pieces of rock because weather radars are not designed to pick up large metal objects – they are made to track smaller particles in the atmosphere.

that you can tune in and watch online – can not find what Fries is looking for, it will not be a failed mission. Exploration is inherently uncertain, but the rewards are invaluable.

"It's an exploration vessel, so we're willing to take risks to make exciting discoveries," said Raineault