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Unlocking Asteroid Mysteries: Insights from Hayabusa2 Mission

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Chapter 1: Hayabusa2's Groundbreaking Journey

The Hayabusa2 spacecraft has made significant strides in unveiling the mysteries of asteroid Ryugu. The initial data gathered while orbiting Ryugu offers valuable insights into the asteroid's formation and its historical context within the early solar system.

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Section 1.1: Data Collection and Analysis

The probe has amassed an impressive array of images and data, shedding light on Ryugu’s origins from a larger parent body. This information could help researchers better understand the essential materials that contributed to the formation of Earth.

Hayabusa2 capturing data from asteroid Ryugu

Launched on December 3, 2014, from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan, the Hayabusa2 mission was a culmination of years of research and development. Professor Seiji Sugita, who supervised the launch, expressed his excitement and anxiety, noting that it represented a pivotal moment in his career and the aspirations of his team.

The spacecraft's carefully designed trajectory allowed it to gain speed by swinging around Earth, enabling it to reach its target in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It successfully arrived at Ryugu on June 27, 2018.

Section 1.2: Discovering Ryugu's Characteristics

Since its arrival, Hayabusa2 has employed various cameras and instruments to gather images and information about Ryugu, continuously transmitting data back to Earth. The spacecraft has achieved a brief soft-landing on the asteroid and is preparing for a second mission to collect surface materials, known as regolith, for return to our planet. Although the sample collection will take another year, the research team remains actively engaged.

Sugita remarks on the discoveries made thus far, particularly regarding the water content of Ryugu, which appears to be much lower than anticipated. Given that Ryugu is relatively young, at around 100 million years old, this finding suggests that its parent body was also likely low in water content.

Close-up of asteroid Ryugu's surface

Ryugu has an exceptionally low albedo of just 2%, making it appear darker than coal. The instruments onboard Hayabusa2, including a visible-light camera and a near-infrared spectrometer, corroborate the findings of limited water presence. This could have significant implications, as it challenges current models of how Earth’s water originated from asteroids and comets during the solar system's formation.

Sugita highlights the broader implications of these findings for the search for extraterrestrial life. With countless solar systems in existence, understanding the conditions of our own early solar system could refine the search parameters for life beyond Earth.

Chapter 2: Collaborative Exploration of Asteroids

The first video titled "Hayabusa2's rendezvous with asteroid Ryugu" showcases the mission's approach to Ryugu, detailing the technology and methods employed during this critical phase.

The second video, "Hayabusa2's second touchdown on asteroid Ryugu," illustrates the probe's landing procedures and the significance of the samples it aims to collect.

The collaboration between Hayabusa2 and NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission, which arrived at asteroid Bennu on December 3, 2018, enhances our understanding of these celestial bodies. The two missions exchange data, enabling researchers to compare the distinct features of Ryugu and Bennu. While both are dark and boulder-strewn, their differences, especially in water content, raise intriguing questions.

Comparison of asteroid Ryugu and Bennu

The mystery surrounding Ryugu's dehydration remains unsolved. It may have been affected by internal heating from radioactive materials or bombardments from other asteroids.

Sugita shares his initial expectations regarding Ryugu’s surface diversity but notes that the homogeneity observed provides a vital baseline for future data comparisons. The uniqueness of Ryugu aids scientists in controlling variables during their studies.

As Hayabusa2 continues its exploration, researchers are piecing together the asteroid's history and its connection to our own. Sugita and his team believe Ryugu originated from a much larger parent asteroid, likely belonging to the Polana or Eulalia families.

Sugita concludes that the concurrent studies of Hayabusa2 and OSIRIS-REx allow for a comprehensive exploration of the origins of these two asteroids. The differences observed between Bennu and Ryugu imply the existence of complex and fascinating astronomical processes that remain to be uncovered.

Original research: http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.aaw0422

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