Japanese Hayabusa-2 probe samples reveal coarse-grained phyllosilicates that may have served as ‚cradles‘ for organics and water
Scientists examining samples from the asteroid Ryugu retrieved by the Japanese Hayabusa-2 probe have concluded that Ryugu is a drifter from the outer solar system.
The results, published in Nature Astronomy, come after just over a year of initial analysis conducted by institutes and universities across Japan, the UK, and USA.
The team, led by Motoo Ito of the Extra-cutting-edge Science and Technology Avant-garde Research (X-star), Kochi Institute for Core Sample Research, kicked off their analysis on June 20, 2021, following an initial cataloging phase.
Getting up close and personal with asteroids in space gives scientists insight into the building blocks of the solar system. Peering at those that fall to Earth as meteorites doesn’t quite cut it in comparison, since the inevitable interaction with the Earth’s atmosphere tends to result in alterations to the chemical composition of materials.
