In the end. After months of agony, NASA has opened a container containing a priceless sample from an ancient asteroid. The first results of the research are sensational. We have found the basic ingredients necessary for life.
Asteroid Bennu is one of the most interesting and oldest space rocks ever visited by humanity. NASA sent him the OSIRIS-REx probe, which collected valuable materials from its surface in 2020. Unfortunately, not everything went as planned and, although the container with the asteroid dust landed without problems, the sample remained stuck behind the container’s closures. After many months of trial and error, scientists were finally able to free the stuck sample and see what was inside.
What is Bennu and why is it so important?
Bennu is an asteroid about half a kilometer in diameter that orbits the Sun at a similar distance to Earth. This is the so-called a B-type asteroid, which means it contains a lot of carbon and other organic elements. Bennu is also a very old asteroid, having formed during the first 10 million years of our solar system’s history, that is, over 4.5 billion years ago.
Thanks to this, on its surface and below it there are compounds and rocks dating back to the beginning of the formation of our galaxy. It may also contain organic molecules similar to those that may have played a role in the origin of life on Earth.
More interesting information about the mission to Bennu can be found on Spider’s Web:
NASA sent the OSIRIS-REx probe to Bennu. The probe traveled 320 million kilometers to closely examine the asteroid, select the best place to collect a sample and carry out the operation. In October 2020, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft approached Bennu and touched its surface for several seconds, releasing a stream of nitrogen that picked up rock and dust particles. These particles were captured by a special mechanism called TAGSAM (Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism), which consists of a robotic arm and a sample container.
It turned out that the OSIRIS-REx probe collected more material than expected – about 70 g, while only 60 g was expected. This was a success, but also a problem, because the sample container was not able to close. The latches that were supposed to hold the sample inside were blocked by larger pieces of rock. The sample capsule landed safely on Earth in October 2023.
How did NASA open the stuck container?
After the capsule landed, NASA scientists took it to a special laboratory at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. There, in special nitrogen chambers to prevent contamination of the sample, they began to examine and open it. The sample container consists of 35 closures, two of which were blocked by larger pieces of rock. To open them, scientists had to create new tools. After many trials and attempts we finally managed to release the closures and open the container.
Opening a container with a Bennu sample.
What was found in the sample?
NASA has not yet revealed what exactly was found in the Bennu sample because the research is ongoing. However, the sample is known to contain both fine dust and larger pieces of rock. Scientists hope the sample will help them better understand the asteroid’s composition and history, as well as the origins and evolution of our solar system. It is possible that they will also discover new information about the emergence of life on Earth and other planets.
Preliminary studies show evidence of high carbon and water contents, which together could indicate that the rock may contain the building blocks of life on Earth.
Why is this important?
The Bennu sample is extremely valuable because it represents the largest quantity of space material brought to Earth since the Apollo missions. It is also the first American mission to collect a sample from an asteroid. This sample can give us many answers to questions about our origins and our future. Asteroids like Bennu could be a source of natural resources that can be used for space exploration. They can also pose a threat to Earth if they get too close to it.
Therefore it is important to examine and monitor them.
Main image: External view of the OSIRIS-REx sample collector. A sample of material from the asteroid Bennu can be seen at center right. This is a material that “managed” to travel to Earth by accident. In a preliminary analysis of this material, scientists found evidence of both carbon and water. Most of the sample is inside the container, which is what scientists have been struggling with for the past month. Photo: NASA/Erika Blumenfeld and Joseph Aebersold
2024-01-13 19:01:00
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