Japanese scientist are gearing up to fritter away an asteroid with a bullet after this week because , well , why not ?
It ’s all part of the last phase of the five - class Hayabusa2 mission conducted by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency ( JAXA ) to snag samples fromRyugu asteroidlocated some 380,000 kilometers ( 236,000 miles ) aside and turn back them to Earth for analysis .
Hayabusa2 has been hovering over the 900 - meter - all-inclusive ( 3,000 - foot ) asteroid since last June , varying its height with ion thrusters to counter the blank stone ’s gravitational attractive feature , while Ryugu rotates underneath it every 7.5 hours .
investigator were ab initio hoping to touchdown last month but were check after discovering the airfoil was much rougher than previously call up , Naturereportedat the meter . While the squad believed the open of the asteroid would be made of a “ powdery fine regolith ” , it actually consisted of gravel measuring 1 centimetre or large . The scientist decide to do further testing in parliamentary procedure to ensure the probe would be capable to put down safely and efficiently garner materials . To do so , they returned to their home satellite lab and make an artificial asteroid similar in speciality , density , and physical composition .
A projector then put in identical metal bullets into the surface of the asteroid in rescript to release and collect fabric samples , according to astatementreleased by the distance organization . In the ground psychometric test , even large rock ‘n’ roll were crush by the metallic element bullet train , confirming that textile could in fact be dispersed and gathered by Hayabusa2 probes .
It ’s the net test before tomorrow ’s test , and researchers say they are unrestrained to finally see years of operose employment pay off .
“ This sunup , the touchdown operation begin ! Today , we are make for the space vehicle to descend , which is an operation involving just a few people . The declension begins tomorrow!”tweetedJAXA .
Hayabusa2 arrival is schedule for around 8 am Japan Standard Time and you may watch the whole thing livehere .
