TOKYO – Japanese space experts said on Thursday they would examine soil samples brought back 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 on Earth.
Scientists from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said they had done a preliminary examination of 5.4 grams (0.19 ounces), far more than the minimum 0.1 gram sample they hoped the spacecraft would have. Hayabusa2 brought more than 190 million miles of Earth from the Ryugu asteroid in December.
About 3 grams of black granules came from Ryugu’s surface and were collected when Hayabusa2 touched the asteroid in April 2019. About 2 grams of larger fragments, up to about 0.4 inches, were obtained from under the surface in a crater made by Hayabusa2 when it landed a second time three months later.
Based on the analysis of near-infrared spectrophotometers of data transmitted by Hayabusa2, JAXA scientists found that the asteroid was exposed to extremely high temperatures both on its surface and underground, possibly caused by an internal heat source or planetary collisions. , rather than the heat of the sun.
Kohei Kitazato, a planetary scientist at the University of Aizu who works with JAXA, said his team found heat indices exceeding 572 degrees Fahrenheit on both the asteroid’s surface and underground.
He said the subsoil would not reach that temperature only from the heat of the sun, suggesting that radiant internal heat or planetary collisions affected Ryugu when it was still part of a parent body billions of years ago, causing its water to evaporate.
His previous study, conducted jointly with scientists 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 further studies next year. Scientists will also examine possible traces of organic matter in the hope that they will provide information about the origins of the solar system and life on Earth.
Following studies in Japan, some of the evidence will be shared with NASA and other international space agencies for further research.
Hayabusa2 continues 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 the sample its planned for 2024 MMX – return mission from one of the Martian months.