Science News: Asteroids, Space Missions, and the Building Blocks of Life

All 5 genetic “letters” of DNA and RNA discovered in a 4.5-billion-year-old asteroid

Researchers detected all five essential nucleobases in samples from the 4.5-billion-year-old asteroid Ryugu, suggesting that key molecular ingredients of life were present in the early Solar System and may have been widespread in space. Read more: All 5 genetic “letters” of DNA and RNA discovered in a 4.5-billion-year-old asteroid

NASA’s Voyager 1 is about to reach a historic one-light-day milestone

NASA’s Voyager 1 is set to reach a distance of one light-day from Earth on November 18, meaning a round-trip signal could take about 48 hours as engineers manage declining power and an unexplained communications blackout. Read more: NASA’s Voyager 1 is about to reach a historic one-light-day milestone

NASA smashed into an asteroid. Now Hera is closing in to see what happened

NASA’s Hera spacecraft has obtained its first clear view of the two asteroids involved in the agency’s 2022 asteroid-redirection experiment and is approaching them to investigate why one shifted farther than scientists predicted. Read more: NASA smashed into an asteroid. Now Hera is closing in to see what happened

Dimorphos in sight: Europe’s Hera probe gets its 1st look at battered space rock (photo) - Space

Europe’s Hera probe has returned its first view of asteroid Dimorphos, revealing a battered-looking surface in an early step in its exploration of the small asteroid. Read more: Dimorphos in sight: Europe's Hera probe gets its 1st look at battered space rock (photo) - Space

NASA asks industry for ideas about saving Hubble Space Telescope

NASA is asking industry for ideas on how to keep the Hubble Space Telescope operating as atmospheric drag gradually lowers it toward Earth, with future options for extending its scientific work under consideration. Read more: NASA asks industry for ideas about saving Hubble Space Telescope