This month the Tohoku Forum for Creativity(TFC) welcomes Dr. Michael Zolensky from NASA's Johnson Space Center to speak about "the new and golden age of sample return missions." The public talk will take place at the 3M Sendai City Science Museum and is aimed at school children with an interest in space.
Date: July 10
Time: 1 pm ~ 3pm
Who: Grade 3 elementary school children ~ high school children, and parents.
Venue: Entrance Hall, 3M Sendai City Science Museum
4-1 Dainohara Shinrin Kouen, Aoba Ward, Sendai City
Directions:
Take the Nanboku line north to Asahigaoka Station and walk 5 minutes to the Science Museum.
There is no need to register, just turn up on the day!
What is an extraterrestrial sample return mission?
But how do we bring astromaterials back from space to research?
- A sample return mission involves taking material samples from space and returning them to Earth for analysis. This research helps us to understand more about the planets around us and ultimately unlock the mysteries of the universe.
- Asteroid explorer Hayabusa2 is an example of a spacecraft currently on a sample return mission.
- Dr. Zolensky will explain how this happens!
- He'll also be there to answer questions and talk about his experience as a Stardust, Cosmic Dust, Hayabusa & Space Hardware Curator.
Extraterrestrial sample return missions are becoming increasingly important missions. The asteroid explorer Hayabusa2 is currently on route to explore the asteroid "Ryugu," while the space probe OSIRIS-REx is due to be launched this September, on a mission to study and take valuable samples from asteroid 101955 Bennu. The information gained from both these space missions will help us understand more about Earth and Planetary Dynamics.
This event is great opportunity for space enthusiasts to find out more about space exploration and ongoing missions, so get down to the Science Museum and bring your questions.
This lecture is a special event that runs concurrently with the TFC's current Thematic Program, "Earth and Planetary Dynamics."
The Tohoku Forum for Creativity (TFC) is the first international visitor research center in Japan. It was created to facilitate international collaboration between academics at Tohoku University and world-class researchers around the world. The central aims of the TFC are to promote pioneering interdisciplinary research, to strengthen academic programs, and to foster the development of young researchers.