Episode
JAXA’s Comet Mission: Unlocking the Origins of Life
- Podcast
- Bedtime Astronomy
- Published
- Apr 24, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2581
- Processing state
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Summary
Japan’s space agency JAXA is developing the Next Generation Small-Body Return mission to collect samples from comet 289P/Blanpain. By using an impactor to access pristine subsurface material, scientists aim to study ancient organics and the building blocks of planets. The mission will preserve samples with cryogenic systems during a 14-year journey, returning to Earth by 2048. If successful, it could reveal how planets formed and whether the ingredients for life came from deep space. Thank you for listening to Bedtime Astronomy — your guide to the cosmos. New episodes on space exploration, NASA missions & the latest astronomy breakthroughs. This episode includes AI-generated content.