NASA’s Genesis spacecraft was launched in 2004 to collect samples of solar wind from space. However, the mission failed to deploy its parachutes due to an engineering error, resulting in a crash landing in the Utah desert. Despite this setback, scientists have spent over 20 years studying the spacecraft’s remains, including fragments of contaminated solar wind collectors.
The team has made significant progress in understanding the nature and impacts of solar wind by comparing their findings with data from other spacecraft observations and additional instruments on Genesis. The cleanup process involved multiple techniques and technologies not available at the time of the mission. Researchers have been able to analyze over 5,000 to 10,000 pieces of contaminated solar wind collectors, including some that were more easily cleaned than others.
The study has provided new insights into the composition of oxygen and nitrogen isotopes in chondrite meteorites and inner solar system materials, challenging the standard model. The research has also shed light on space weathering and radiation damage, helping scientists understand how the surface of the moon and asteroids change due to solar bombardment.
The Genesis samples remain useful for research, offering precise solar data that aids cosmochemistry experts modeling solar system formation. The mission’s legacy will be remembered as one of robotic sample-return missions, marking a significant milestone in space exploration history.
Source: https://spacenews.com/shattered-genesis-spacecraft-yields-scientific-discoveries-20-years-after-crash-landing