NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission has successfully delivered samples from asteroid Bennu to Earth, providing scientists with valuable insights into the origins of life. The spacecraft, which launched in 2016 and arrived at Bennu in 2018, collected a vast amount of material during its sampling run in October 2020. However, the collection mechanism clogged, allowing some of the asteroid dirt and pebbles to escape into space. Despite this setback, OSIRIS-REx managed to secure most of the Bennu samples in its container.
The return capsule landed in northern Utah on September 24th, following which the sample was transported to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Here, the sample is currently being processed, curated, and stored. However, the exact amount of material collected by OSIRIS-REx remains unknown, although estimates suggest it exceeds the mission requirement of 2.1 ounces (60 grams) by approximately 8.8 ounces (250 grams).
Over the upcoming months and years, portions of the Bennu sample will be distributed to researchers around the globe for detailed study. One significant aspect of the research will focus on identifying the carbon compounds found in the sample, potentially shedding light on how life originated on Earth. Scientists believe that carbon-rich asteroids like Bennu may have seeded our planet with the building blocks of life through impacts.
Moreover, Bennu represents a relic from the era when planets were forming in our solar system. By examining the properties of this ancient rock, scientists hope to gain a better understanding of the formation and evolution of our cosmic neighborhood. Furthermore, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will continue its mission and head towards another asteroid called Apophis, with plans to study it up close in 2029 as part of the OSIRIS-APEX extended mission.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized the significance of the mission, stating that the sample from OSIRIS-REx is the largest carbon-rich asteroid sample ever delivered to Earth. He expressed his confidence that this sample will provide valuable insights into the origin of life and enhance our understanding of asteroids that could potentially pose a threat to our planet. Nelson also highlighted the groundbreaking scientific discoveries that lie ahead, thanks to the samples returned from Bennu.
Dante Lauretta, the principal investigator of OSIRIS-REx at the University of Arizona, praised the mission’s achievements, noting that the sample offers profound insights into the secrets of our solar system. He emphasized that the carbon-rich material and the presence of water-bearing clay minerals found on Bennu are just the beginning. These discoveries contribute to our journey in unraveling the mysteries of our cosmic heritage and the potential origins of life.
As NASA continues to explore and study the secrets of the universe, missions like OSIRIS-REx lay the foundation for groundbreaking discoveries that will shape our understanding of our celestial neighborhood and beyond.