Japanese experimental space bombs shoot meteors

Japanese scientists have successfully tested a cosmic cannon used to bombard meteorites in search of the origin of the planets.

The Japan Aerospace Agency (JAXA) said the successful test will pave the way for space launchers early next year. The device will be mounted on the Hayabusa-2 spacecraft and launched into the 1999JU3 meteorite located between Earth and Mars.

Picture illustrating the Japanese Hayabusa-2 spacecraft

When arriving at the 1999JU3 meteorite expected in 2018, the Hayabusa-2 spacecraft will conduct an observation of the entire surface of the meteorite using remote-controlled devices. After that, it will drop a probe called Minerva 2 to the meteorite surface to learn more.

Based on the initial analysis, cosmic cannon fired a metal shell at the surface of the meteorite 1999JU3. The probe Minerva 2 will then take samples from this collision and send it to Earth.

Scientists are very interested in the meteorite 1999JU3 because it is supposed to change very little since the Solar System was formed. Japanese scientists hope to find organic matter water from the early period of the Solar System in the samples obtained. These data can help clarify the formation of planets and life.

The Japanese exploration ship plans to sample a meteorite in 2018 and send it to Earth at the end of this decade. Hayabusa-2 spacecraft is Japan's second project to bring distant cosmic materials to Earth. Earlier, Hayabusa was launched into space to study meteorites and return to Earth in 2010.