TOKYO – Japanese space experts said Thursday they will examine soil samples recovered from a distant asteroid in an attempt to find the heat source that altered the celestial body, looking for clues about the origin of the solar system and life in the earth.
Scientists at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said they had conducted a preliminary examination of 5.4 grams (0.19 ounces), much more than the minimum 0.1 gram sample they had expected, than the Hayabusa2 probe. led in December from the asteroid Ryugu in December 190 million kilometers from Earth.
Approximately 3 grams of the black granules came from the surface of Ryugu and were collected when Hayabusa2 touched the asteroid in April 2019. About 2 grams of larger fragments, up to 0.4 inches, were obtained from below the surface in a crater made by Hayabusa2 when it landed a second time three months later.
According to near-infrared spectrophotometer analysis of data transmitted by Hayabusa2, JAXA scientists found that the asteroid was exposed to extremely high temperatures on both its surface and subsoil, possibly caused by a source. internal heat or by planetary collisions instead of the heat of the sun.
Kohei Kitazato, a planetary scientist at Aizu University working with JAXA, said his team found signs of heat above 572 degrees Fahrenheit on both the asteroid’s surface and underground.
He said the underground soil would not reach this temperature just from the heat of the sun, suggesting that radiative internal heat or planetary collisions affected Ryugu when it was still part of a parent body billions of years ago, causing water evaporation.
His previous study, conducted jointly with academics at Brown University and more than 30 other institutions, was published in the journal Nature Astronomy last month.
JAXA continues an initial examination of asteroid samples before more comprehensive studies next year. Scientists will also examine possible traces of organic matter in hopes of providing information about the origins of the solar system and life on Earth.
Following studies in Japan, some of the samples will be shared with NASA and other international space agencies for further research.
Hayabusa2 continues on an 11-year expedition to another small, distant asteroid, 1998KY26, to study possible defenses against meteorites that could fly to Earth, while conducting various tests that could be used in future Japanese space missions, including its planned MMX show of 2024 – mission back from one of the Martian moons.