New Atlas

Space Audio available

Water found in sample brought back from asteroid Itokawa

Michael Irving May 1, 2019

The Japanese probe Hayabusa collected samples from the asteroid Itokawa and returned them to Earth in 2010. Now researchers from Arizona State University have discovered traces of water in those samples, adding weight to the idea that much of Earth’s water may have come from asteroid impacts.

Water has been discovered in samples returned from the asteroid Itokawa

Space

Space and emergency agencies make plans for defending Earth from asteroids

David Szondy April 28, 2019

A tabletop exercise at the 2019 Planetary Defense Conference (PDC) next week will consider a fictional scenario where an asteroid 100 to 300 m (330 to 990 ft) in diameter with a one-in-100 chance of striking the Earth on April 29, 2027 is detected.

The Manicouagan impact crater in Quebec, Canada, is one of many reminders that asteroids have impacted ...

Space Audio available

JAXA confirms Hayabusa2 is first spacecraft to ever bomb an asteroid

David Szondy April 28, 2019

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has confirmed that, earlier this month, its Hayabusa2 deep space probe became the first spacecraft to successfully bomb an asteroid.

Space Audio available

Antarctic meteorite tells the tale of an asteroid that ate a comet

Michael Irving April 15, 2019

Scientists have discovered a tiny fragment of a comet in a meteorite. The bulk of the rock itself was once an asteroid, but when the team cracked it open and analyzed the inside, they found that the growing asteroid must have swept up the seed of a comet billions of years ago.

Scientists have discovered the seeds of a comet inside a meteorite from an asteroid

Space Audio available

SpaceX tapped to launch NASA asteroid deflection mission

David Szondy April 14, 2019

NASA has selected the ride for its Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission, awarding SpaceX the US$69 million launch contract. If all goes to plan, DART will lift off atop a Falcon 9 rocket in June 2021 to demonstrate how a spacecraft collision can alter the trajectory of an asteroid.

Artist concept of NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft

Space Audio available

Self-driving spacecraft tech to be road-tested as part of planetary defense mission

Michael Irving April 9, 2019

ESA has now detailed the side mission it’s planning for the asteroid-visiting spacecraft Hera. After the main work is complete, the probe will test out some new autonomous navigation systems, which should help future spacecraft get around without relying on ground control all the way back on Earth.

Hera is set to become the first autonomous spacecraft

Space Audio available

Early asteroids may have had iron-spewing volcanoes

David Szondy April 8, 2019

Metallic asteroids in the early days of the solar system may have had volcanoes spewing molten iron instead of lava. Based on models of how metallic asteroids form and cool, a new study by planetary scientists at UC Santa Cruz opens the window on such a spectacular possibility.

As a metallic asteroid such as Psyche cooled and solidified, iron volcanoes may have erupted onto ...

Science Audio available

Life on planet Earth may take millions of years to recover from a mass extinction event

Anthony Wood April 8, 2019

It takes millions of years for life to fully recover from a catastrophic extinction event, according to a new study that examined the aftermath of the asteroid strike that wiped out all non-avian dinosaurs 66 million years ago.

Artist's impression of a large asteroid colliding with Earth

Space Audio available

Interstellar objects like 'Oumuamua could kickstart planet formation

David Szondy April 8, 2019

According to a new study, interstellar wanderers like 'Oumuamua may speed up the formation of planets in the gas clouds of newly-formed protostars by acting as seeds that help accelerate the creation of new planets.

Interstellar objects may speed up development in early planetary systems

Space Audio available

Japan's Hayabusa2 may have bombed an asteroid for the first time in history

David Szondy April 5, 2019

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is working to confirm that its experiment to bomb the asteroid Ryugu was successful. Today, JAXA's unmanned Hayabusa2 deep space probe deployed the SCI (Small Carry-on Impactor), which is designed to blow a hole in the surface of Ryugu.