Space enthusiasts will be thrilled to learn that they can see up close the first sample collected by NASA's OSIRIS-REx missionfrom the asteroid Bennu. A rocky fragment from the asteroid is now on display at the National Museum of Natural History U.S..
After seven years and a journey of 6.21 billion kilometers, NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft returned to Earth in late September, bringing a capsule full of precious dust from the asteroid Bennu.
OSIRIS-REx was launched in 2016 from Earth, successfully landed on the asteroid Bennu in 2020, and about two weeks ago brought back the material it collected, which was transported to a special facility for examination.
The research team has had some difficulty opening the transport capsule, with some parts remaining trapped inside. However, when scientists first opened the outer lid, they found “black dust and debris” coating the lid and the Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM). The team was also able to access and collect some of the material contained within TAGSAM.
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Initial analyses show that the sample is rich in carbon and minerals that contain water.
Now, a sample of the asteroid is on display at the National Museum of Natural History. It is hoped that further analysis of the asteroid Bennu will help us learn about the possible role that asteroids have played in delivering organic compounds to Earth. Data from the mission could also be used in missions to deflect potentially hazardous asteroids.
Bennu itself is estimated to have about a one in 1,750 chance of hitting Earth by the year 2300. The most likely impact date is September 24, 2182. On that date, there is a 0.037% chance of impact, according to NASA. While these odds are still low, it might be best to gather all the information we can about such asteroids, just in case.
The OSIRIS-REx mission and the sample from Bennu allow us to learn more about the materials that existed at the birth of our solar system, 4.5 billion years ago, and see how they came together to form the sun and then planets .
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The composition and evolution of asteroids and comets are central to understanding where the water in Earth's oceans came from and how life managed to arise from organic compounds and other chemicals transported to Earth.
The mission to Bennu is just the beginning. As science and technology advance, NASA continues to embark on missions that push the boundaries of human knowledge and understanding. The discovery of carbon and water on the asteroid Bennu is just one step toward answering some of humanity's big questions about the origin and evolution of life in the universe.
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As for the Bennu sample display, it is significant because it allows us to see up close the result of a space mission exploration that has lasted several years. Finally, the first public display of the sample reminds us of the importance of exploration and the pursuit of knowledge for humanity.
Source: www.iflscience.com
