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ELEMENTS, ISOTOPES AND EVOLUTION
Genesis
The sun has preserved the chemical composition of the solar nebula that formed the solar system. Since the solar wind comes from the surface layers of the sun, measuring the composition of the solar wind is a way to probe the composition the original solar nebula. The Genesis spacecraft did just that, capturing solar-wind particles and returning them to Earth.
The main goal of the mission was to measure the ratios of different isotopes found in the solar samples. By comparing the isotopic ratios of the Genesis samples with samples from Earth and the moon, scientists can piece together the history of the solar system. And Juno will provide a key piece of the puzzle by helping determine how Jupiter and the other gas giant planets formed.
The main goal of the mission was to measure the ratios of different isotopes found in the solar samples. By comparing the isotopic ratios of the Genesis samples with samples from Earth and the moon, scientists can piece together the history of the solar system. And Juno will provide a key piece of the puzzle by helping determine how Jupiter and the other gas giant planets formed.
Image of solar wind embedding into wafers of Genesis solar panels.