Asteroid

Asteroid Ryugu’s Organic Compounds Could Provide Insights into Origin of Life

Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery that could potentially provide insights into the origins of life. The researchers have found evidence of carbon-rich organic compounds on the surface of an asteroid called Ryugu. This discovery has raised the possibility that…

NASA’s Lucy Spacecraft Gears Up for Deep Space Exploration of Trojan Asteroids

The NASA spacecraft Lucy is embarking on an exciting journey to explore the distant realms of the Trojan asteroids. Fresh off its first asteroid encounter, Lucy is now gearing up for the next phase of its mission, transitioning from its…

NASA’s Planetary Defense Capabilities Tested as Small Asteroid Disintegrates over Germany

NASA’s planetary defense capabilities were put to the test as a small asteroid, named 2024 BX1, harmlessly disintegrated over Germany. The asteroid, approximately 3 feet in size, was detected by NASA’s Scout impact hazard assessment system, providing advanced warning of…

Researchers Make Significant Discovery Regarding Impact Melts on Asteroid Ryugu

Researchers have made a significant discovery regarding the microstructural and chemical features of impact melts on the surfaces of particles from the asteroid Ryugu, shedding light on the records of interplanetary dust hitting the asteroid. The findings, published in the…

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Mission Achieves Breakthrough in Asteroid Sample Extraction

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission has achieved a significant breakthrough as the curation team at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston has successfully removed the two fasteners from the sampler head, allowing access to the remainder of the asteroid Bennu sample material….