NASA Unveils Groundbreaking Asteroid Sample Packed with Vital Ingredients for Life's Origin
NASA unveils groundbreaking asteroid sample from Bennu, brimming with vital ingredients for life Excitingly, scientists from the OSIRIS-REx mission showcased the sample, marking a historic achievement
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According to NASA administrator Bill Nelson, the rocks and dust not only contain water but also a significant amount of carbon. This discovery suggests that asteroids like Bennu may have brought the essential components for life to Earth. The weight of the sample indicates that it is composed of nearly 5% carbon.
"In the initial analysis, it was found that the samples contain an abundant amount of water in the form of hydrated clay minerals, along with the presence of carbon in both mineral and organic molecule forms," Nelson explained. "This is an unprecedented achievement as the carbon-rich asteroid sample returned to Earth is the largest ever obtained. These carbon and water molecules are precisely the kind of materials we were hoping to find. They play a critical role in the formation of our own planet and will assist us in determining the origins of the elements that could have contributed to the development of life."
The OSIRIS-REx sample collector provides a glimpse of the exterior with visible traces of asteroid Bennu, positioned on the middle right. Preliminary analysis of this material reveals signs of carbon and water, affirming their presence. The majority of the sample is concentrated internally.
On September 24, NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission successfully delivered the sample collected from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu, which is approximately 4.5 billion years old. The sample arrived on Earth in a capsule, being dropped from the spacecraft and safely landing in the Utah desert.
Scientists have been dedicatedly studying the unexpected abundance of material housed within the upper section of the canister for early analysis since then. The findings of this analysis, along with the initial examination of the sample, were shared during a live NASA broadcast from the Johnson Space Center in Houston on Wednesday. This is the largest asteroid sample ever returned to Earth.
During its close encounter with Bennu three years ago, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft deployed a Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism head, known as TAGSAM, towards the asteroid and released a blast of nitrogen gas. As a result, rocks and dust were lifted from a depth of 19 inches (50 centimeters) beneath the asteroid's surface. This debris subsequently entered the TAGSAM head.
TAGSAM, with its 24 surface contact pads, made contact with the asteroid and captured fine-grained material.
By combining the gathered dust and rocks from both the surface and interior of Bennu, valuable information can be unveiled regarding the asteroid's formation and evolution throughout history. Additionally, these findings will provide insights into the overall composition of space rocks, aiding NASA in devising methods to deflect the asteroid and potentially mitigate any future threats of impact on Earth.
The highly anticipated revelation has been in the works for seven years, starting from the launch of the OSIRIS-REx mission in 2016 to the recent landing of the capsule. Some individuals have been eagerly awaiting this moment for an even longer period of time. Dante Lauretta, the principal investigator of OSIRIS-REx, who played a key role in developing the mission from its earliest stages, has patiently waited for nearly 20 years to witness the extraction of the sample and the valuable insights it could provide about our solar system.
For the next two years, scientists will meticulously examine the rocks and soil in a dedicated clean room located at the Johnson Space Center. Additionally, the sample will be carefully divided and dispatched to laboratories worldwide, including those affiliated with the Canadian Space Agency and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, who are partners in the OSIRIS-REx mission. Approximately 70% of the sample will be stored in pristine condition for future generations to study using more advanced technology, thus enabling them to gain a deeper understanding of our solar system beyond what is currently possible.
