In recent news, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has made substantial strides in space exploration. The agency successfully received a capsule from the unmanned Hayabusa 2, housing the first comprehensive samples of dust from asteroid Ryugu. This achievement aims to answer fundamental questions about the origins of our solar system and the source of molecules like water.
The Journey and Purpose of Hayabusa 2
Launched from Japan’s Tanegashima space center in 2014, Hayabusa 2 had an arduous four-year journey to reach its target. The mission is a progression of the original Hayabusa launched in 2003. Marking a milestone, the first Hayabusa linked up with asteroid Itokawa in 2005 and returned materials to Earth in 2010.
The name Hayabusa, which translates to peregrine falcon in Japanese, resonates with the speed and agility of this bird of prey. To acquire the samples, the spacecraft orbited the asteroid for several months, mapping its surface conditions. Following this, it utilized small explosives to create a crater and collected the resultant debris. The probe initiated its return to Earth in November 2019; the dust it carried will provide valuable insights into the early days of our solar system.
Significance of Asteroids and Comets
Regarding asteroids and comets as the building blocks of the early Solar system, these celestial bodies document the inception and initial evolution of our universe. In contrast, larger planets such as Earth underwent a more complex evolution, significantly altering pristine materials and obliterating records of their early formation stages.
Gases found in asteroid rock samples can further our understanding of the planet formation process’s chemical composition. Importantly, among the various threats to life on Earth, an asteroid collision is considered one of the most likely causes of extinction. Hence, exploring these primitive bodies is crucial for survival insights.
Understanding Asteroids
Often referred to as minor planets, asteroids consist of metals and rocks and revolve around the Sun in shorter, elliptical orbits. They are irregularly shaped, although some almost spherical ones do exist. Several asteroids boast small companion moons, with some having up to two moons. There are even binary and triple asteroid systems, consisting of two or three rocky bodies of comparable size orbiting each other.
Classification of Asteroids
Asteroids find themselves classified by their locations and characteristics. The majority lie within the asteroid belt, located between Mars and Jupiter’s orbits. Called Trojans, certain asteroids share an orbit with a larger planet but avoid collisions due to their positioning in special points in the orbit where gravitational pull from the sun and the planet balance each other. Other objects, known as Near-Earth Asteroids, have orbits passing close to Earth. Those crossing Earth’s orbital path are referred to as Earth-crossers.