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Scientists Release First Analysis of Rocks Plucked from Speeding Asteroid
Scientists have recently released the first analysis of rocks plucked from a speeding asteroid. The samples were collected by NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, which spent over two years orbiting the asteroid Bennu before returning to Earth in September 2021. The analysis of these rocks provides valuable insights into the formation and evolution of our solar system.
What is Bennu?
Bennu is a small, near-Earth asteroid that was discovered in 1999. It is roughly 500 meters in diameter and orbits the Sun every 1.2 years. Bennu is classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid because it has a small chance of colliding with Earth in the late 22nd century.
How were the samples collected?
NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft arrived at Bennu in December 2018 and spent over two years studying the asteroid's surface before collecting samples in October 2020. The spacecraft used a robotic arm to touch down on the surface of Bennu and collect a sample of rocks and dust. The spacecraft then returned to Earth in September 2021, with the samples safely stored inside a capsule.
What have scientists learned from the analysis?
The analysis of the samples has provided valuable insights into the formation and evolution of our solar system. One of the key findings is that Bennu is made up of fragments from multiple parent bodies that collided and merged together early in the history of our solar system. This suggests that many asteroids are not single, homogeneous bodies, but rather are made up of fragments from multiple sources.
The analysis also revealed that Bennu contains water-bearing minerals, which suggests that water was present on some of the parent bodies that formed Bennu. This supports the theory that water was delivered to Earth by asteroids and comets early in its history.
Why is this research important?
Studying asteroids like Bennu is important because they are remnants from the early solar system and can provide valuable insights into its formation and evolution. Asteroids also pose a potential threat to Earth, so understanding their composition and behavior is important for planetary defense.
The analysis of the samples collected by OSIRIS-REx provides a unique opportunity to study the composition of an asteroid in detail. This research will help scientists better understand the processes that shaped our solar system and could inform future missions to study asteroids and other small bodies in our solar system.
Conclusion
The analysis of rocks plucked from a speeding asteroid by NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has provided valuable insights into the formation and evolution of our solar system. The samples collected from Bennu revealed that it is made up of fragments from multiple parent bodies that collided and merged together early in the history of our solar system. The analysis also revealed that Bennu contains water-bearing minerals, which supports the theory that water was delivered to Earth by asteroids and comets early in its history. This research is important for understanding the processes that shaped our solar system and could inform future missions to study asteroids and other small bodies in our solar system.
FAQs
Q1. What is OSIRIS-REx?
OSIRIS-REx is a NASA spacecraft that was launched in 2016 with the goal of studying the asteroid Bennu and returning samples to Earth.
Q2. Why is Bennu classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid?
Bennu is classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid because it has a small chance of colliding with Earth in the late 22nd century.
Q3. How were the samples collected from Bennu?
The samples were collected by NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, which used a robotic arm to touch down on the surface of Bennu and collect a sample of rocks and dust.
Q4. What have scientists learned from the analysis of the samples?
The analysis of the samples has provided valuable insights into the formation and evolution of our solar system, including the fact that Bennu is made up of fragments from multiple parent bodies and contains water-bearing minerals.
Q5. Why is studying asteroids like Bennu important?
Studying asteroids like Bennu is important because they are remnants from the early solar system and can provide valuable insights into its formation and evolution. Asteroids also pose a potential threat to Earth, so understanding their composition and behavior is important for planetary defense.
This abstract is presented as an informational news item only and has not been reviewed by a subject matter professional. This abstract should not be considered medical advice. This abstract might have been generated by an artificial intelligence program. See TOS for details.