For the last seven years, NASA has been exerting efforts to stop asteroid Bennu, which is taller than the Empire State Building, from colliding with the Earth.
Asteroid Bennu Could Crash Into Earth
The chances of Bennu crashing into Earth are extremely slim. They are as small as 1 in 2,700, or 0.037%. Nevertheless, the NASA team has categorized Bennu as two of the most hazardous known asteroids.
If the worst case were to happen, the huge space rock's crash onto the Earth's surface may unleash up to 1,200 energy megatons. This is 24 times stronger than the Tsar Bomba explosion, which is the largest nuclear bomb detonation.
According to estimations, this 1.2 gigaton strike could take place on September 24, 2182. Astronomers think that this rock may lead to great destruction if it were to indeed impact the Earth.
Asteroid Bennu
Bennu was first discovered in 1999. This near-Earth asteroid passes the planet every six years. It was able to have close encounters with the Earth three times in 2011, 2005, and 1999.
The rock's density is only roughly 30% greater than water. This means that the asteroid could probably contain loose rock collections that are similar to a rubble pile.
Scientists think that the asteroids contain remnants of the formation of the solar system which took place around 4.5 billion years ago.
NASA OSIRIS-REx Mission
The OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, REsource Identification and Security-Regolith Explorer) mission of NASA, which is the first of its kind, focuses on studying Bennu in-depth. The mission's spacecraft successfully descended over the asteroid's surface back on October 20, 2020. It has then collected samples and taken shots. The team behind the mission were able to successfully keep samples in a Sample Return Capsule bound for Earth.
The OSIRIS-REx then bid farewell to the asteroid on May 10, 2021. It is heading towards the Earth to transport the sample on September 24, 2023. It is set to crash in Utah. This will formally close off its seven-year and four-billion-mile journey.
Scientists think that they may receive around 250 grams of dust and pebbles, which is quite significant. According to astrophysicist Hakeem Oluyesi, the mission may change what is currently known about the solar system's origins.
Once it is finished delivering the capsule, the craft will start a new mission, the OSIRIS-APophis Explorer (OSIRIS-APEX). In 2029, the craft will focus on encountering asteroid Apophis.
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