Direct sample analysis offers several advantages over robotic explorers conducting it from the surface of an asteroid or planet and then beaming back the data.

It provides a window into understanding how the surface of a celestial body has changed due to its constant exposure to the harsh deep space environment.

The scientists conducted their analysis using electron holography, a technique in which electron waves infiltrate materials. This method has the potential to uncover key details about the sample’s structure and magnetic and electric properties.