Japanese scientists have successfully tested an asteroid-blasting cannon in a bid to find out what the crater in the asteroid is made of.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) revealed that the massive cannon would be firing a metal bullet onto the surface of asteroid "1999JU3" in 2018.
The Hayabusa-2 probe will launch the bullet which will land on the surface of asteroid 1999JU3 and take samples of the "newly-disturbed soil." This is a part of a project that is seeking out organic matter for signs of water.
The Hayabusa-2 is the successor of the "Hayabusa", a deep-space probe which had returned to Earth in 2012 after collecting asteroid dust from a potato-shaped space rock.
"The Hayabusa-2 project is progressing as planned," a JAXA spokesman said.
In 2014, one of JAXA's dedicated H2A rockets will carry the craft into space. Per JAXA, the Hayabusa-2 will be hurled on a course that operators hope will take the same path as the 1999JU3 asteroid four years later in 2018.
Upon reaching its destination, the Hayabusa-2 will float above the asteroid 1999JU3 and release the space cannon. It is intended that the cannon then glides gently towards the asteroid's barren surface.
When the weapon is drifting down, the probe will journey to the other side of the asteroid where its sensitive sensor will be safe from any flying debris or shrapnel as a result of the impact. Once the Hayabusa-2 is out of the periphery, the cannon will detonate and thrust a massive bullet-like object on the asteroid's surface below.
Once the dust settles, the probe will return to the scene to inspect the crater and will land on the asteroid's surface and scoop samples for analysis and take it back to Earth.
The Hayabusa-2 is anticipated to return to Earth by 2020 and will bring with it invaluable matter for scientific investigation, which will help researchers understand better how planets are formed.
