Asteroids are small celestial bodies located in the Solar System, containing valuable information about the formation and evolution of planets. Asteroid exploration has become one of the important goals of modern space missions, especially with the development of breakthrough technology in space exploration. These advanced technologies not only help spacecraft reach and explore the asteroid’s surface, but also collect samples and bring them back to Earth for analysis.
Two prominent missions in asteroid exploration are Hayabusa2 of the Japan Space Agency (JAXA) and OSIRIS-REx of NASA. Both of these missions applied advanced technologies to collect samples from the asteroid’s surface and return them to Earth for study. These missions not only provided important scientific data but also marked a breakthrough in the exploration of small celestial bodies.
1. Automatic Navigation System
One of the most important technologies in asteroid exploration is automatic navigation system. Asteroids are often small in size and have complex orbits, making navigating and landing on them a major challenge. To overcome this, spacecraft like Hayabusa2 and OSIRIS-REx are equipped with automated navigation systems, which use sensors and laser technology to measure distances and determine precise positions on the asteroid’s surface. pure.
During the Hayabusa2 mission, the automatic navigation system helped the spacecraft accurately land on the asteroid Ryugu and perform multiple sample collections without human intervention from Earth. This technology ensures that spacecraft can operate effectively in the harsh environment of deep space.
2. Robots and Specimen Collection Equipment
The Robots and specimen collection equipment also plays an important role in asteroid exploration. They are designed to reach the surface, take soil and rock samples, then pack them up and prepare them for return to Earth. During the OSIRIS-REx mission, the **TAGSAM** (Touch-And-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism) instrument was used to rapidly contact the asteroid surface Bennu and collect specimens.
TAGSAM is a unique technology that works by making light contact with the asteroid’s surface, then injecting nitrogen to agitate and draw debris into a collection device. This mechanism helps minimize risks to the spacecraft during its approach to the asteroid and ensures that samples are taken from regions rich in primordial material.
3. Remote Control Technology
Asteroid exploration often takes place at great distances, making direct control from Earth difficult due to signal latency. Therefore, these missions must be relied upon remote control technologyallowing the spacecraft to operate autonomously for long periods of time. The Hayabusa2 and OSIRIS-REx spacecraft both use remote control systems to carry out their missions, which include approaching, landing, and collecting samples from the asteroid’s surface.
These systems are also programmed to handle emergency situations, such as adjusting trajectory or changing approach options if a collision risk or technical problem is detected. This helps protect spacecraft from potential risks during asteroid exploration.
4. Technology to Bring Samples to Earth
One of the biggest challenges in asteroid exploration is bringing samples back to Earth for analysis. Technology specimen management and preservation has been developed to ensure that samples collected from the asteroid are uncontaminated and protected during their journey back to Earth.
During the Hayabusa2 mission, samples collected from asteroid Ryugu were carefully packed in a special capsule and returned to Earth in December 2020. OSIRIS-REx is also expected to bring samples from Asteroid Bennu returns to Earth in 2023. These samples will help scientists study the formation of asteroids and primordial materials from the early days of the Solar System.
Asteroid exploration
Space technology in asteroid exploration is increasingly advancing, helping to expand human understanding of small celestial bodies in the Solar System. Technologies such as autonomous navigation systems, sample collection robots, and remote control systems have helped missions like Hayabusa2 and OSIRIS-REx achieve great success. In the future, with the development of new technologies, the discovery and research of asteroids will continue to bring important information about the universe and the formation of the Solar System.
