Sharing Is A Central Ethical Principle, Among Scientists... Politicians Could Learn... A Lot, There, Actually.

Overnight in Japan, JAXA -- the Japanese agency akin to our NASA -- disclosed first photos, and data about the soil and gas samples returned from the asteroid Ryugu, and recovered from a capsule that parachuted into the Australian outback about two weeks ago now (and, an older July 2019 backgrounder here).

The mission was a wildly-successful, "exceeding-all-expectations" sort of affair -- as lots and lots of sample material was captured and stowed in both compartments. Due to the now billions of years of radiation while wandering, out in deep space, the top soil is approximately the color of coffee grounds, ground to a reddish brown (in the light wave-lengths visible to our eyes). We await word on what the hue of the sub-soil might be -- but it could well be almost copper colored -- not unlike the surface of Mars (see masthead, above).

But I note it not just for the pure "wow-factor" of the technological feat(s), though. I note it here, as we enter the holidays, to point out that JAXA has already committed to share portions of these samples with NASA and ESA, in the coming years -- as unsealing gets underway (so it is especially wonderful that there is an embarrassment of riches to be shared apparently).

We certainly hope the incoming Administration will follow the lead under which the President-Elect served as Vice President: and thus renew our commitment to sharing useful space science resources and discoveries -- as they are in a very real sense the collective effort of all of humanity. [Thus, they are not to be viewed as military assets, in some goofy "Space Farce", obviously -- per the departing. . . Dotard's delusions.] Here's the JAXA-story -- on the very exciting, extremely long distance return delivery developments, and just a bit from it:

. . . .Hirotaka Sawada, a JAXA scientist, was the first to look inside the capsule's sample-catcher. Sawada said he was "almost speechless" with joy when he found that the samples inside included some that were, as expected, dust size, but also some the size of pebbles. . . .

The samples were gathered from two touchdowns that Hayabusa2 made last year on Ryugu. The landings were more difficult than expected because of the asteroid's extremely rocky surface. . . .

The first landing collected samples from Ryugu's surface and the second from underground. Each was stored separately. JAXA said it will look into another compartment, used for a second touchdown, next week, and will continue an initial examination ahead of the later studies of the material. . . .

Especially at the holidays, we all should think of first principles -- ones we learned at pre-school or kindergarten. Chief among those (in addition to the golden rule), is the notion of. . . sharing. We are all enriched thereby. So -- I will share, and share copiously, in the coming months and years. . . and for that, I will beg your. . . forgiveness. Smile. . . .

Archived 2019 JAXA footage -- of touchdown, on Ryugu:



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