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Missions to asteroids and comets

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, and that until now the examination of meteorites that fell on Earth was interpreted as earthly pollution
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 possibly even gold - materials of commercial interest
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 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 soil samples from an asteroid has landed safely in Utah and been transferred 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 subjected to significant periods of time on Earth before being tested.
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 facilities that were essential for taking the soil samples and which were no longer essential were disconnected from the spacecraft. These actions made it possible to close the lid of the tank
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 - interim summary before Osiris Rex collects a sample from it and returns it to DHA

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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 reaches 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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