Title: NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Mission Faces Setback as Asteroid Samples Remain Unopened
Subtitle: Scientists eagerly await access to the untainted asteroid material
In a surprising turn of events, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission, which successfully retrieved samples from asteroid Bennu, now faces a vexing issue: the inability to open the sample canister. Much like struggling to open a stubborn jar, NASA scientists find themselves unable to access the valuable contents of the canister due to two fasteners on the Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM).
The $1.16 billion mission, which traveled 200 million miles from Earth to retrieve crumbly bits of space rock, has sparked immense interest within the scientific community. These asteroid samples could potentially hold crucial clues to understanding the formation of the solar system and the origins of life itself. Therefore, scientists are understandably eager to commence their analysis and exploration of the samples.
Fortunately, despite the sampling canister’s unopened state, scientists have already made exciting discoveries. The exterior of the sample canister was found to be covered in an abundance of asteroid material, allowing for preliminary scientific investigations. During a recent press conference, OSIRIS-REx sample analyst Daniel Glavin described the asteroid bits as “an astrobiologist’s dream,” as carbon and water molecules have already been identified.
To discuss the potential research opportunities these untainted asteroid samples present, Gizmodo reached out to various astrobiologists. Jean-Pierre de Vera, an astrobiologist at the German Aerospace Center, expressed his excitement about the possibility of determining if asteroids played a role in delivering water and organic building blocks to Earth. Comparing the amino acids found on Bennu to those on Earth, Sawsan Wehbi from the University of Arizona aims to answer the question of whether early life utilized these extraterrestrial building blocks.
While meteorites found on Earth provide valuable insights into the origins of the solar system, they are often contaminated by our planet’s organic material. Thus, the pristine samples collected from Bennu present an unprecedented opportunity to study ancient carbon-bearing meteorites untouched by Earth’s interference. This analysis could help scientists gain a deeper understanding of the chemical complexity and evolution of life processes.
Bennu, an ancient asteroid dating back to the early stages of the solar system, is believed to carry critical information about the formation of our solar system and the existence of primordial organic components. However, scientists have discovered that Bennu underwent changes during its early existence, offering a glimpse into its evolutionary process.
Michael Wong, an astrobiologist at Carnegie Science, emphasizes the significance of understanding the chemical complexification of Bennu during its brief period of evolution. The processes that molecules can undergo together might be more important than their individual identities, shedding light on how life can arise from different suites of building blocks.
Despite the setback of the unopened canister, the public can still marvel at the Bennu asteroid samples. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. is now showcasing these valuable relics, allowing visitors to contemplate the origins of life on Earth while eagerly awaiting the results of future analysis and research.
In conclusion, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission has encountered an unexpected challenge as scientists struggle to open the canister containing valuable asteroid samples. These untainted materials have the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the solar system’s formation and the genesis of life. As scientists continue to work towards resolving the issue, the world eagerly awaits the exploration and revelations that the precious Bennu asteroid samples will bring.