Hayabusa2 returns asteroid samples to earth today

I heard about this on the BBC's Inside Science radio programme (available as a podcast). The Japanese spacecraft rendezvoused with an asteroid, using various probes to collect data, blew a small hole in it and collected samples from the surface and below the surface. It is returning them to earth today.

More here.

Quote:

In the early hours of Sunday, the capsule, protected by a heat shield, will briefly turn into a fireball as it re-enters the atmosphere 120km (75 miles) above Earth. At about 10km (6 miles) above ground, a parachute will open to slow its fall and beacon signals will be transmitted to indicate its location. Jaxa staff have set up satellite dishes at several locations in the target area to receive the signals, while also preparing a marine radar, drones and helicopters to assist in the search and retrieval of the pan-shaped capsule, 40cm (15 inches) in diameter. Australian National University space rock expert Trevor Ireland, who is in Woomera for the arrival of the capsule, said he expected the Ryugu samples to be similar to the meteorite that fell in Australia near Murchison in Victoria state more than 50 years ago. “The Murchison meteorite opened a window on the origin of organics on Earth because these rocks were found to contain simple amino acids as well as abundant water,” Ireland said. “We will examine whether Ryugu is a potential source of organic matter and water on Earth when the solar system was forming, and whether these still remain intact on the asteroid.”

via International Skeptics Forum https://ift.tt/2IgW9Pf