Japan's asteroid-smashing probe reveals a surprisingly young space rock

Japan's Hayabusa 2 spacecraft, launched by JAXA, investigated asteroid Ryugu by creating an impact crater. The findings, published in Science, reveal Ryugu as a rubble pile of boulders held by sandy materials. The spacecraft, equipped with ion thrusters and various sensors, confirmed the asteroid's ancient materials date back 4.6 billion years, while its current form is only 10 million years old.

What was the primary mission of Hayabusa 2?

What did the findings published by JAXA reveal about the asteroid Ryugu?

How large is the Hayabusa spacecraft and what are its main features?

Describe the impact experiment conducted by Hayabusa 2.

What does the study suggest about the age of materials found on the asteroid?