Japan’s space agency JAXA is developing the Next Generation Small-Body Return mission to collect samples from comet 289P/Blanpain.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />If successful, it could reveal how planets formed and whether the ingredients for life came from deep space.<br /><br />Thank you for listening to Bedtime Astronomy — your guide to the cosmos. New episodes on space exploration, NASA missions &amp; the latest astronomy breakthroughs.<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.