Hayabusa2 mission
What did JAXA scientist Hirotaka Sawada discover when he first looked inside the Hayabusa2 sample capsule from asteroid Ryugu?
When JAXA scientist Hirotaka Sawada first examined the capsule's sample catcher from asteroid Ryugu, he was almost speechless with surprise and joy at what he discovered. He found that the samples weren't limited to just the expected fine dust particles, but also contained larger materials the size of grains and pebbles. This diverse range of sample sizes was an unexpected bonus for the scientific team, providing them with more substantial material to analyze from the distant asteroid. These varied samples are particularly valuable as they offer scientists greater opportunity to study the composition of Ryugu and potentially unlock insights about the formation of our solar system.
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WION
01:56 - 02:16
What challenges did Hayabusa2 face during its landings on asteroid Ryugu, and what did it accomplish?
The Hayabusa2 mission encountered greater landing difficulties than anticipated due to Ryugu's extremely rocky surface. Despite these challenges, the spacecraft successfully completed two separate sample collection operations: the first gathering material from the asteroid's surface, and the second collecting underground samples, with each stored in separate compartments. Following initial examinations by JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), these valuable samples will undergo comprehensive analysis in Japan before being shared with NASA and other international research groups. This collaborative approach will maximize scientific insights from these rare extraterrestrial materials, potentially providing crucial information about the early solar system.
Watch clip answer (00:35m)WION
03:14 - 03:49
What did the Hayabusa2 mission discover from asteroid Ryugu?
The Hayabusa2 space probe successfully collected an unexpected abundance of pristine asteroid dust and gas samples from Ryugu, located approximately 200 million miles from Earth. During its six-year mission, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) spacecraft made two daring touchdowns on the asteroid, retrieving surface material and gases that left scientists speechless. These samples, which have now returned to Earth, represent a major scientific milestone that will provide crucial insights into the origins of our solar system and potentially life on Earth.
Watch clip answer (01:51m)WION
00:04 - 01:55
What are JAXA scientists studying in the asteroid Ryugu samples and why is it important?
JAXA scientists are particularly focused on the organic materials found in the Ryugu asteroid samples. They're studying these materials to understand their distribution throughout the solar system and potential connections to life on Earth. This research could provide critical insights about the origins of our solar system and possibly reveal links to how life developed on our planet. The mission yielded more sample material than anticipated, which Seiichiro Watanabe, an Earth and environmental scientist from Nagoya University working with JAXA, considers excellent news. This abundance of material significantly expands their research capabilities, allowing for more comprehensive studies of these valuable extraterrestrial samples.
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02:39 - 03:07
What did scientists discover in the asteroid Ryugu samples returned by the Hayabusa2 mission?
JAXA scientist Hirotaka Sawada was almost speechless with surprise when examining the Hayabusa2 capsule's contents, finding not only the expected dust particles but also larger grains and pebbles from asteroid Ryugu. The dark samples, resembling coffee grounds or black sesame seeds, include material from both the surface and subsurface of the asteroid. Scientists are particularly interested in studying the organic materials within these pristine samples, which could provide information from billions of years ago, unaffected by space radiation. They hope to learn how organic materials were distributed in the solar system and whether they are related to the development of life on Earth.
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WION
01:56 - 02:50
What did the Hayabusa2 mission collect from asteroid Ryugu?
The Hayabusa2 space probe successfully collected multiple samples from asteroid Ryugu, located approximately 200 million miles from Earth. During its unprecedented six-year mission, the probe performed two touchdowns on the asteroid, gathering both surface dust and pristine subsurface material. Scientists were amazed by the quantity of samples retrieved, which included black particles described as soil and sand, along with gas samples. JAXA Project Manager Yuichi Tsuda confirmed they collected 'a good amount of sand apparently collected from asteroid Ryugu along with gases,' calling this return a major scientific milestone.
Watch clip answer (01:22m)WION
00:04 - 01:27