Japanese space officials successfully retrieved a capsule containing samples from the Ryugu asteroid. The samples were gathered by Japan’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft (which returned to space after dropping off the capsule), and the mission marks the first time that subsurface asteroid samples have been returned to earth. Scientists expect to use the samples for a wide range of research on topics including the origins of the solar system and the source of molecules that may have seeded life on earth.
Extra: Here’s a video of the capsule creating a “fireball” during its return to Earth.
The New Paper
This story is from the December 8, 2020 edition of The New Paper – a clear, concise daily briefing that makes fact-first news easy to consume. Try it today.
