NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission successfully delivered a treasure trove of material from the asteroid Bennu, including samples rich in water and carbon. This achievement marks the largest carbon-rich asteroid sample ever brought back to Earth and holds immense potential for advancing our understanding of the origins of life.
OSIRIS-REx embarked on its groundbreaking journey in September 2016 and reached Bennu’s vicinity in December 2018. Over the next 22 months, the spacecraft meticulously studied the asteroid from orbit, meticulously searching for the perfect spot to collect a sample. In October 2020, the mission encountered an unexpected hurdle when Bennu’s surface turned out to be porous, causing the probe to sink deeper than anticipated during the sampling process.
Nevertheless, OSIRIS-REx overcame this obstacle and managed to collect a significant amount of material, though some escaped into space due to clogging issues. The spacecraft began its return journey to Earth in May 2021 and, on September 24, its return capsule made a successful landing in the desert of northern Utah. The following day, the sample arrived at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, where it will undergo processing, curation, and storage.
Despite the mission’s success, there is still much to learn. The exact quantity of material collected remains unknown, although estimates suggest it exceeds the initial requirement by a wide margin. In the coming months and years, portions of the Bennu sample will be distributed to scientists worldwide for detailed analysis.
These analyses will reveal crucial information about the composition of carbon compounds within the sample, shedding light on the origins of life on our own planet. Many scientists hypothesize that asteroids rich in carbon, like Bennu, may have delivered the building blocks of life to Earth through ancient impacts. Additionally, studying Bennu’s properties will enhance our understanding of how our solar system formed and evolved.
Dante Lauretta, the principal investigator for OSIRIS-REx at the University of Arizona, emphasized the significance of this milestone. He highlighted the vast potential for uncovering ancient secrets and deciphering the mysteries of our cosmic heritage, emphasizing the profound insights this mission will offer.
Beyond this achievement, OSIRIS-REx is still on its celestial journey. Despite the return capsule’s safe arrival on Earth, the spacecraft will continue its exploration and is scheduled to reach another asteroid, Apophis, in 2029. This extended mission, named OSIRIS-APEX, will enable scientists to study Apophis up close and further expand our knowledge of these celestial bodies.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson expressed his enthusiasm, stating that missions like OSIRIS-REx provide invaluable knowledge about asteroids that could potentially threaten Earth, while also offering glimpses into the vast mysteries of the cosmos. The return of this precious sample is a testament to human ingenuity and our insatiable quest for knowledge and understanding.
