The sand grains brought back by Hayabusa2 are representative samples of asteroids | Nippon.com

[Kyodo News, February 11th]A research team from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and others published a paper in the electronic version of the journal Science on the 10th, saying that the probe Hayabusa 2 will be brought back in December 2020. The sand grains of the Earth’s asteroid “Ryugu” are consistent with the material, morphology and surface characteristics of the asteroid photographed, and it is concluded that it is a representative sample of asteroids. Shogo Tachibana (cosmochemistry), a professor at the University of Tokyo, a member of the team, said expectantly, “The whole picture of the asteroid will be revealed through analysis.” Hayabusa2 collected small rocks and grains of sand on the asteroid’s surface in February 2019. After that, in April, in order to collect rocks and sand in the shallower ground, metal bullets were shot to make artificial craters, and the ejected material was collected during the second landing in July of the same year. According to images from the probe’s camera, the rocks and stones on the asteroid’s surface are uneven and smooth. The samples returned to Earth also had very similar rocks and fine particles, and based on their size, shape, color, etc., it was concluded that they were representative samples of asteroids. The surface of the rock near the second collection site may have been small particles that flew out when the crater was made, and the samples brought back may contain the same particles. “Dragon Palace” may remain traces of the early formation of the solar system, and its analysis is expected to be high. (Finish)