Asteroid & Comet Missions

Latest about Asteroid & Comet Missions

Asteroid Phaethon is one of the bluest objects in the solar system.

Meet Phaethon, a weird asteroid that thinks it's a comet – our new research may explain what's going on

By Martin D. Suttle published

Meet Phaethon, a "rock comet" that blurs the definitions between asteroid and comet, and learn why it will be worth paying attention to this fascinating object in the coming years.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
illustration of a spacecraft with two circular solar panels deployed. below the spacecraft is an asteroid's surface

UAE on track to launch bold 7-asteroid mission in 2028

By Leonard David published

The Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt will conduct high-speed flybys of six asteroids, then orbit and drop a lander onto a seventh space rock.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
An artist's depiction of the Janus spacecraft.

Shelved NASA spacecraft could spy on asteroid Apophis before 2029 Earth flyby

By Brett Tingley published

NASA is considering pulling a pair of shelved spacecraft out of storage to spy on notorious asteroid Apophis ahead of its April 2029 Earth flyby.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
a giant rock flying through space

Space mining startup AstroForge aims to launch historic asteroid-landing mission in 2025

By Mike Wall published

Asteroid-mining startup AstroForge plans to launch its third mission, which will land on a metallic space rock, in 2025.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
a round capsule rests on the ground of hazy, dim desert.

NASA’s asteroid sample mission gave scientists around the world the rare opportunity to study an artificial meteor

By Brian Elbing, Elizabeth A. Silber published

While very small meteoroids are common, larger ones — bigger than a dishwasher — are not.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
closeup of a small black rock sitting on a silver tray

Rare OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample debuts at Space Center Houston

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

Move over, moon rocks! Space Center Houston has a new type of space stone in its showcase: a sample of the asteroid Bennu.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
An illustration of the asteroid belt as a dense donut-shaped ring of yellow points with the Sun at the center. The background is black with hints of dark blue in the corners and small white pinprick stars sprinkled throughout. A small illustrated Earth sits to the left of the Sun, and a semi-opaque, cone-like teal triangle extends from Earth toward the right. The cone opens up to a mosaic of a couple dozen small, square-like shapes representing Rubin Observatory’s LSST Camera’s detector area. The mosaic is overlaid onto a portion of the asteroid belt, and each tile represents a camera image that detects a group of asteroids. A thin curved white line begins behind the Sun and swings out around the Earth, tracing the path of a small, not-to-scale spacecraft heading toward the illuminated asteroids, ready for exploration.

How Earth's new Rubin Observatory will usher in the next era of asteroid space missions

By Robert Lea published

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory won't ever leave Earth, but its big picture, highly detailed view of the solar system will inspire a new era of space missions destined to visit asteroids.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
gif animation showing an asteroid flying towards Earth.

Near-Earth asteroids: Hunting and tracking upcoming flybys

By Robert Lea last updated

Reference Here we explore whether there are any upcoming asteroid encounters and how NASA and other space agencies actively monitor near-Earth asteroids that have the potential to hit our planet.

Reference
grey rocks and dust inside a silver metal cannister

NASA finally opens OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample canister after freeing stuck lid

By John Loeffler published

After months of anticipation, NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission team has successfully accessed the treasure trove of asteroid material the probe collected during its billion-mile journey.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
A scientist in clean room suit attaches tool in glove box on asteroid sample capsule

At last! NASA finally frees lid of asteroid Bennu sample capsule after battling stuck fasteners

By Samantha Mathewson published

NASA technicians have finally removed the two stubborn fasteners that prevented them from accessing all of the asteroid samples returned to Earth by OSIRIS-REx in September.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
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