Japan blows up asteroid to study life
A Japanese probe has just 'bombed' an asteroid 300 million km from Earth to collect samples for research on the origin of life on Earth.
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| The Hayabusa 2 probe will collect samples from Ryugu after the explosion for study. |
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa) said the spacecraft undertaking this mission is Hayabusa 2 and the "unlucky" planet is named Ryugu.
The planet is believed to contain organic matter and water from 4.6 billion years ago, when the solar system formed.
To "defuse" the asteroid, Hayabusa used a cone-shaped device, equipped with explosives the size of a baseball, programmed to detonate 40 minutes after activation. The device was placed into a crater on the asteroid's surface.
Hayabusa 2 dropped a camera right on the asteroid and then immediately exited to avoid a collision. The probe will return to the planet's surface after the dust and debris from the explosion has settled, then collect samples for study.
Hayabusa 2's mission cost more than $260 million and is expected to return to Earth in 2020.
