Missions to asteroids and comets

An artist's impression of the Japanese space mission Hayabusa2 landing on the surface of asteroid 1998 KY26. New observations using ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT) have revealed that the asteroid is only 11 metres in diameter – almost a third smaller than previously estimated – and completes a rotation every five minutes, faster than expected. The image shows an updated size comparison between the asteroid and the spacecraft. Credit: ESO/M. Kornmesser. Asteroid: T. Santana-Ros et al. Hayabusa2 model: SuperTKG (CC-BY-SA).

Will Hayabusa 2 succeed in landing? Its target is a tiny, faster-than-expected asteroid

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Scanning electron microscope photograph of a micrometeorite impact crater with a particle of material from the asteroid Bennu.

The asteroid Bennu is a time capsule of materials that testify to its origin and the changes that have occurred over billions of years.

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Three papers by a team of researchers who analyzed samples from OSIRIS-REx, led by the University of Arizona, reveal unprecedented details about the composition and history of asteroid Bennu
The European Space Agency's Hera spacecraft will perform an acceleration maneuver near Mars and also explore it. Figure: European Space Agency.

The engines of the spacecraft Hera were ignited on its journey towards the asteroid Didymus

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Hera - the European Space Agency's asteroid exploration mission will once again reach the asteroid it visited and which was diverted by the DART spacecraft
The Webb telescope, seen in the lower right corner of this figure, was used to verify the presence of mummified minerals on the surface of the asteroid Psyche. Credit: Southwest Research Institute

The Webb telescope reveals water compounds in asteroid Psyche

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The observations will help analyze data from NASA's Psyche spacecraft on its way to this interesting asteroid that orbits the Sun in the main asteroid belt - between Mars and Jupiter
A top view of one of the containers containing rocks and dust from the Beno asteroid, scaled in centimeters. Credit: NASA/Erika Blumenfeld and Joseph Aebersold

Surprise in the sample from the asteroid: its structure contains the "original ingredients" of the solar system

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The OSIRIS-Rex sample analysis team found that the asteroid dust was rich in carbon, nitrogen, organic compounds and magnesium sodium phosphate, suggesting special historical conditions.
The Yabusa 2 spacecraft near asteroid Ryugu, courtesy of JAXA

Surprising discoveries about the carbon richness of asteroid Ryugu and the composition of matter in the early solar system

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Japanese researchers who examined the soft materials that returned to Earth from the asteroid Ryugo in the Yabusa 2 spacecraft now estimate that the protoplanetary bodies from which the planets and asteroids were formed were richer in carbon than previously thought.
Artist illustration of asteroid 16 Psyche. Credit: Maxar/ASU/P.Rubin/NASA/JPL-Caltech

The Psyche spacecraft helps scientists understand what asteroids are made of and prepares the ground for commercial reactors

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The composition of asteroid Psyche can tell scientists more about Earth's core because the two objects may have a similar structure. Both probably contain platinum, nickel, iron and maybe even gold - rich materials
Illustration showing the Psyche spacecraft as it flies towards the Psyche asteroid. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU

NASA's Psyche spacecraft has begun its journey to the asteroid hitting Psyche

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On the way there, the spacecraft will receive a gravitational push from Mars. It is expected to reach the orbit around the asteroid in the first stage in June 2029
The sample return capsule from NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission is seen shortly after it landed in the desert, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, at the Department of Defense Test and Training Range in Utah. (Image credit: NASA/Keegan Barber)

NASA's OSIRIS-REx capsule containing asteroid soil samples has landed safely in Utah and been moved to a clean room

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The Osiris-Rex probe returns to Earth small samples of the asteroid Beno, a "real small world" for analysis
Training replica of the sample lander from asteroid Benno, which will land on September 24, 2024 in Utah. Photo: NASA

The Osiris Rex spacecraft that took samples from an asteroid in 2020 is expected to land them in a capsule

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Illustration of the DART mission to divert an asteroid. Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL

NASA's DART spacecraft is aimed at impacting the target asteroid Dimorphos with the aim of deflecting it on September 26

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DART, which is the world's first attempt to change the speed and trajectory of an asteroid in space, is trying a method to deflect asteroids that could be useful if such a need arises in the future to protect Earth.
Lucy will study Jupiter's Trojan asteroids - thought to be "fossils of planet formation". Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

NASA's Lucy in cruise mode - the problematic solar array is open between 75% and 95%

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Lucy was launched on October 17, 2021 on its mission to study Jupiter's Trojan asteroids to gain new insights into the formation of the Solar System 4.5 billion years ago
The personnel of the Japanese Space Agency collect the sample capsule brought by the Yabusa 2 spacecraft. Photo: JAXA

Organic material was found on an asteroid sample returned by Yabusa 2

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Organic materials have been found on meteorites before, but Yabusa was the first time a sample of an "S-type" asteroid was observed to contain organic molecules. It even came directly from the source, and was not subject to time periods
Simulation of the re-entry into the atmosphere of a probe that separated from the Yabusa 2 spacecraft and landed a soil sample from the asteroid Ryogo in Australia. Figure: Japanese space agency JAXA

Japan has landed the Yabusa 2 soil sample from the asteroid Ryugo in Australia

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The Yabusa 2 spacecraft itself continued on its way and will meet with another asteroid in 2031
The Osiris Rex spacecraft is hovering over the Bennu asteroid. Illustration: shutterstock

Osiris Rex and the Beno Asteroid: Tension, Initiative and a 400g Specimen

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It turned out that the lid of the tank was stuck with a lump of soil and did not close. The decision made was to reduce as much as possible various operations and store the material as quickly as possible. In addition, two were separated from the spaceship
NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission is poised to touch down on the surface of asteroid Ben. Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

The Osiris Rex spacecraft successfully touched down on asteroid Benu in an attempt to obtain a sample

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In the coming week, the engineers and scientists of the mission will try to estimate the size of the collected sample, and if it is smaller than the target of 60 grams, another contact attempt will be made in January
The asteroid Beno, as photographed from the Osiris Rex spacecraft from an altitude of 24 km. Photo by NASA

Asteroid Bennu - an interim summary before Osiris Rex collects a sample from it and returns it to the Earth

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Yabusa 2. Image: Japanese Space Agency

Watch: The Yabosa 2 spacecraft landed on the asteroid, collected a soil sample and took off

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A photograph of the Beno asteroid from the cameras of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, from an altitude of about 80 km. Photo: NASA

NASA's OSIRIS-Rex spacecraft arrives at asteroid 'Beno'

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NASA's Dawn spacecraft. Photo: JPL

The DAWN spaceship finished its mission, after losing contact with it

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This dynamic image was taken by the 1A probe on September 22 at around 11:44 Japan time (15:44 Israel time). The image shows the surface of the asteroid Ryugo during a jump. In the left half of the image, the surface of Ryogo is visible, while the bright spot on the left side was created as a result of exposure to sunlight. Photo: Yabusa 2 project, Japanese space agency JAXA.

The Japanese probes that landed on an asteroid renewed contact with Earth and transmitted images and data

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Probes 1A and 1B (left and center) together with the Minerva 2 spacecraft that will land at a later date on the asteroid Ryugu. Image: JAXA

The Japanese Space Agency has lost contact with two small spacecraft that separated from the Yabusa 2 and were on their way to land on the asteroid Ryogo

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Towards the landing of MASCOT on the asteroid Ryogo from the spacecraft Yabosa 2: the operation manager talks about the planning

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Simulation of the Osiris-Rex spacecraft approaching Earth. Source: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/University of Arizona.

The Osiris-Rex spacecraft passed near Earth on its way to collect a sample from a nearby asteroid

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Comet P67. Photographed by the Rosetta probe on July 7, 2015 from a distance of 154 km. Source: ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM.

Comet 67P studied by the Rosetta spacecraft: summary of findings

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A visualization showing Nas' two new missions - Lucy and Seiki.

Meet Lucy and Seiki: NASA's New Space Missions

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The site of Rosetta's crash landing on the comet as photographed on the spacecraft's path to it. The craters from which bubbles bubbles material that later evaporates and joins the comet's halo, allowing a glimpse of the internal composition of the comet's nucleus. Photo: European Space Agency

The historic journey has ended: the European spacecraft Rosetta landed on the comet it was studying

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The model of the Philae lander on the stage of the event hall at the control center of the European Space Agency in Darmstadt, Germany, November 12, 2014. Photo: Avi Blizovsky

Farewell to the comet lander

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Rosetta's comet in August 2015, when it was closest to the Sun, when most of the glycine was detected. Photo: European Space Agency

Rosetta's comet contains ingredients necessary for life

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Moment of explosion from SpaceX's Falcon-9 launcher, 28/6/15. Screenshot from NASA TV

Summary of 2015 in space, part XNUMX: failures and successes

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These dark, narrow channels called (SRL) recurring slope lineae emanate from the walls of Garni Crater on Mars. The dark channels here reach a length of hundreds of meters. It is hypothesized that they were formed by the flow of brackish water on Mars, as photographed by the MRO spacecraft. Credits: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

2015 in space part I: scientific discoveries, historical achievements

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The nucleus of comet 67P Churyumov-Garasimenko was 5 km in diameter. Photo: European Space Agency

A surprise in the findings of the Philae comet lander: complex organic materials

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The Philae lander stands vertically on its side with one leg in outer space. Here we see it in relation to the panoramic image taken by the CIV camera. Photo: ESA

The comet lander with whom contact was lost transmitted a first sign of life after seven months

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The Bavi and Ethan regions on the surface of comet Churyumov-Garsimenko as imaged by the Osiris camera on the Rosetta spacecraft. Photo: European Space Agency

Rosetta photographed the valley formed on the surface of comet 67P as a result of material escaping into space

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Artist's illustration of the dwarf planet Ceres. From the NASA website

Nancy, but fascinating

Gas and dust from the surface of Churi as the comet approaches the perihelion and an explanation of the discovery of the nitrogen molecules. Photo: Credit: ESA/Rosetta/ROSINA

Rosetta discovered the most wanted molecule - nitrogen gas

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The mysterious white formations on a hook. Photo: NASA

The Dawn spacecraft will enter orbit around the dwarf planet Ceres today

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The New Horizons spacecraft hovers above Pluto and its large moon Charon. Artist illustration: NASA

Pluto and beyond / Michael D. Lemonique

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Sam Golkis (left) and Kalim Churiomov from the Comet Explorers at the event in honor of the landing of Philae. In the background, a model of the comet. Photo: Avi Blizovsky

The news from Rosetta - the rate of water evaporation is increasing

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NASA's Dawn spacecraft. Photo: JPL

The Dawn spaceship begins to approach asteroid Keres

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The source of water in the oceans? Vapors emitted from Comet Churyumov Gersimenko in a Rosetta photograph. Photo: European Space Agency, ESA

Water from a comet or an asteroid?

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A complex and challenging task. The spacecraft landed on the asteroid. Image: Japanese space agency JAXA

This morning, Japan launched the Yabusa-2 spacecraft to a near-Earth asteroid

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Yabusa 2. Image: Japanese Space Agency

Japan will launch the Yabusa 2 spacecraft to a near-Earth asteroid on Wednesday

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Kalim Churiomov in an interview with the scientist website: "I am happy that the European Space Agency chose a comet that I was a co-discoverer as a target for the spacecraft"

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The Rosetta spacecraft is operated by crews at the European Space Agency's Operations Center in Darmstadt, Germany.

Rosetta continues in the full scientific phase

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A photograph showing the Philae lander taking off from comet 67P Churimov-Gersimenko in Rosetta animation. Credit: SA/Rosetta/NAVCAM; pre-processed by Mikel Canania"

The wisdom of the crowds helped discover the jump of the Philae lander and its final landing place on the comet

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The model of the Philae lander on the stage of the event hall at the control center of the European Space Agency in Darmstadt, Germany, November 12, 2014. Photo: Avi Blizovsky

Philae completed her initial mission and went into forced hibernation

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Philae landed on its side and in a shady spot but managed to take and broadcast historical images of the ground of a comet nucleus from the surface; Fear of its ability to continue operating when the batteries run out

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The first image sent by the Philae lander after landing on the comet. The ground is rockier than the mission scientists had estimated. Photo: ESA

Philae settled on a rocky surface but did not anchor to the ground of the comet

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Landing Manager Stefan Olmec and ESA Operations Director Paolo Perry at a press conference summarizing the events of the PHILAE landing on Comet 67P at the ESA Control Center in Darmstadt. 12.11.14. Photo: Avi Belizovskan

Assessment as to the cause of the disruptions: Philae landed, then took off again and landed at a different point

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