The Infinite Monkey Cage Asteroids
Feb 28, 2024
Exploring asteroids, the podcast features discussions with experts on their impact on the solar system and Earth. They delve into asteroid classification, space missions trying to retrieve samples, and the potential use of asteroids for space exploration. The episode also touches on asteroid mining and the legal implications, all presented with a mix of scientific insights and humor.
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Meteorite Collections And Annual Falls
- Sarah Russell explained ~70,000 meteorite samples exist worldwide and roughly a dozen are recovered and reported each year.
- Most extraterrestrial material hitting Earth is tiny dust; about 40,000 tonnes arrives annually.
OSIRIS‑REx Touch‑And‑Go Return
- Sarah Russell described OSIRIS‑REx sampling Bennu with a Touch-And-Go arm then returning samples to Earth in 2023.
- The spacecraft effectively 'flew with' Bennu because the asteroid's gravity is tiny at 500 m across.
Bennu Is A Rubble‑Pile Body
- Bennu's surface surprised teams with boulders, veins, and active dust ejections rather than uniform powder.
- The sampling probe punched through because Bennu is a porous rubble pile reassembled from disrupted parent bodies.