OSIRIS-REx successfully obtained surface samples from the asteroid Bennu nearly two years ago and is currently on its way back to Earth. Although OSIRIS-REx is not expected to return to Earth until the end of next year, NASA scientists have already shared new discoveries during the sampling process while waiting.
Scientists had expected that the surface of Bennu should be similar to that of sand, which means that although the surface is covered with sand and dust, it is generally solid. However, when OSIRIS-REx really leaned on it, it felt more like a child’s ball pool. Except for the much larger stones, OSIRIS-REx sank almost immediately, without any resistance at all. Not only that, scientists originally expected that the sampling head of OSIRIS-REx should have no effect on Bennu’s surface at all, but in fact, just hitting Bennu’s surface lightly, it “blown up” the entire surface. Leaving a big hole with a diameter of 8 meters.
Scientists are currently revising the model of Bennu’s material and structure according to the actual situation observed on the spot, and hope that this new model can be applied to other asteroids to explain the observation data of asteroids. In addition to allowing NASA to better prepare when designing future asteroid missions, it also has important implications for preventing asteroids from hitting Earth — a solid asteroid and a loose asteroid crashing into the After the atmosphere, there will be very different effects and different threats.