NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Probe Discovers Water and Carbon-Rich Compounds on Asteroid Bennu
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx probe has unveiled an exciting revelation about the composition of asteroid Bennu. The American space agency announced during a live webcast that samples collected from Bennu contain significant amounts of water and carbon-containing compounds. The probe successfully completed its return journey from the asteroid, covering a staggering distance of 1.4 billion miles (2.3 billion km) and safely deposited a collection capsule in the Utah desert. Inside the capsule lies approximately 8.8 ounces (250g) of material collected from Bennu in late 2020.
The extracted samples have been transported to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, where they will be distributed to researchers worldwide for extensive analysis. Scientists are particularly interested in these materials, hoping they will provide valuable insights into the origins of life on Earth. It is widely believed that carbon-rich asteroids like Bennu played a crucial role in depositing the necessary elements for organic life to arise on our planet.
Dante Lauretta, the University of Arizona planetary scientist and NASA’s principal investigator for this mission, described Bennu as a time capsule that offers profound insights into the formation of our solar system. The bounty of carbon-rich material and the presence of water-bearing clay minerals on the asteroid’s surface are just the beginning of the cosmic secrets waiting to be unraveled.
Interestingly, Bennu surprised scientists even before they could examine it up close. Initially, when the OSIRIS-REx probe attempted to approach the surface to extract a sample after orbiting the asteroid for 22 months to find the perfect spot, they encountered unexpected porosity. Far from the rigid rock NASA was anticipating, the surface appeared extremely porous. Instead of resistance, the spacecraft started to sink into the asteroid’s surface, which Dante Lauretta described as a frightening experience.
By narrowly avoiding being engulfed by Bennu, the probe managed to escape its clutches by firing its thrusters. The resulting crater left behind was massive, measuring 26 feet (8m) instead of the small indentation scientists predicted. This surprising observation led researchers to conclude that the particles forming Bennu’s exterior are so loosely packed and lightly bound that they behave more like a fluid than a solid. This property has significant implications for potential deflection efforts if an asteroid similar to Bennu were to pose a collision risk towards Earth.
Following the successful return of its sample capsule to Earth, the OSIRIS-REx probe is embarking on another exciting mission. It is set to undertake a voyage to the asteroid Apophis, with an expected arrival in 2029. While Apophis does not involve collecting samples, the probe will spend 18 months capturing images and mapping the asteroid’s surface. Previously considered a potential threat to Earth in 2068, Apophis is now regarded as less likely to collide. Nonetheless, scientists anticipate that studying this asteroid will provide valuable information about other asteroids of its type that could pose a collision risk to our planet.
The discovery of water and carbon-rich compounds on Bennu is an extraordinary milestone in our quest to understand the origins of life and the formation of our solar system. With further analysis and research, scientists anticipate uncovering even more secrets hidden within this ancient cosmic time capsule. As NASA’s OSIRIS-REx probe embarks on its next mission to Apophis, the journey to unlock the mysteries of our universe continues.
