ANSMET (Antarctic Search for Meteorites) is a scientific program dedicated to the collection and study of meteorites found in the Antarctic region. Established in 1976 by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), ANSMET aims to retrieve meteorites that have fallen from space onto the Antarctic ice sheet. These meteorites, originating from various celestial bodies such as asteroids, comets, and the Moon, provide valuable insights into the composition and history of the solar system.
ANSMET expedition teams, composed of scientists and field staff, journey to remote locations in the Antarctic using snowmobiles, aircraft, or helicopters to search for and recover meteorites. The chosen sites, often located in blue ice areas or meteorite traps, offer higher probabilities of finding preserved meteorites due to the ice movement and accumulation.
Once collected, the meteorites undergo thorough examination and analysis. Scientists study their chemical, mineralogical, and isotopic composition to learn more about the early solar system, planet formation, and the geological processes that have shaped celestial bodies. ANSMET meteorites have contributed significantly to our understanding of cosmology, providing crucial data to verify theories and models of planetary evolution.
The ANSMET program has been instrumental in the discovery and retrieval of thousands of meteorites, making it one of the largest collections of extraterrestrial samples on Earth. These specimens continue to be studied by researchers from around the world, uncovering fascinating details about the origins and mysteries of our solar system.
