Japanese space experts said today that they will examine soil samples brought back from a distant asteroid to try to detect the heat source that altered the celestial body.
Scientists from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency are trying to find out how the water on the asteroid evaporated, in the hope of finding clues that would point to the origin of the solar system and life on Earth.
They stated that they tested 5,4 grams of soil, significantly more than the minimum sample of 0,1 gram they were hoping for.
In December, the Hayabusa2 spacecraft returned a soil sample from the Ryugu asteroid, which is more than 300 million kilometers from Earth.
About three grams of black granules "Hayabusa2" took from the surface of the asteroid when it touched it in April 2019, while about two grams of larger fragments were taken from below the surface in the crater it made during the second landing, three months later.
Japanese scientists discovered that the asteroid was exposed to extremely high temperatures both on the surface and underground, which is probably the result of either an internal heat source or a collision of planets, rather than the heat of the Sun.
A team of scientists from Japan's Aizu University discovered traces of heat exceeding 300 degrees Celsius both on the surface of the asteroid and below the surface.
Scientists state that the temperature below the earth's surface will not reach such a height due to the heat of the Sun alone, which indicates that the Ryuga asteroid, while it was part of the parent body billions of years ago, was affected by either internal heat from radiation or planetary collisions, leading to the evaporation of water.
The Japanese space agency continues preliminary examination of asteroid samples, and more extensive studies are planned for next year.
Scientists will also examine possible traces of organic matter, hoping to find some answers about the origin of the solar system and life on Earth.
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