Last Friday, the asteroid Bennu sample, which was collected as part of the OSIRIS-REx mission, was publicly displayed for the first time in the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.
Asteroid Bennu and OSIRIS-REx Mission
The sample, which is equivalent to 100 to 250 grams of space rubble, is believed to contain some of life's earliest precursors. It is also thought to be the first space rock that a NASA mission has ever gotten its hands on.
Scientists from NASA first unveiled the sample last October 11 after it was brought to Earth in the OSIRIS-REx capsule that raged at a speed of 43,000 kmph. This was after its 6.4-million kilometer and seven-year round trip across the cosmos. The capsule launched its own parachute and then landed safely on Utah desert before it was brought to the Johnson Space Center for further scientific analysis for signs of extraterrestrial life.
The asteroid Bennu is classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid, with odds of 1 in 2,700 of striking the planet by the year 2182. These are the highest known chances of any cosmic object. However, scientists are more intrigued by what the space rock holds inside, as it could potentially contain hints regarding precursors of Earth life.
Bill Nelson, who is the NASA Administrator, explains that the sample is the largest asteroid sample that is carbon-rich that has ever returned to the planet. Nelson adds that molecules of water and carbon are the elements that they are aiming to see as these elements are crucial to the Earth's very own formation. They may also help with knowing the origins of elements that could have spurred life.
Bennu is also considered a B-type asteroid. This means that it holds significant carbon amounts and may also contain several primordial molecules that were present during the emergence of life on Earth.
The sample was taken after almost two years of looking for a place to land over the craggy surface of the asteroid. When the OSIRIS-REx got into contact with the rock, it fired a nitrogen burst to stick the landing and stop the craft from sinking in the space rock. The blast made dust and rocks career around the craft, with some debris landing over a canister in the OSIRIS-REx.
Another blast of the craft's thrusters was able to lift it off Bennu. The OSIRIS-REx then finished several flyovers before ultimately leaving Bennu in May 2021.
Asteroid Bennu Sample Now Available For Public Viewing
Kirk Johnson, who serves as the Museum's Sant director, explains that the OSIRIS-REx mission is quite a remarkable achievement in the field of science that may reveal the uniqueness of the Earth. Johnson further notes that with the assistance of NASA partners, they are proud to publicly display one of these samples for the first time.
Alongside the Bennu sample display is the OSIRIS-REx capsule as well as the Atlas V 411 rocket that deployed it. The display is set in the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals at the Smithsonian museum. Smithsonian researchers will also further look into a different sample to examine signs of life.
While the Smithsonian is set to be one of the many organizations that will be displaying Bennu samples, it is currently the first to do so.
Tim McCoy, the curator for meteorites at the museum who also participated in the OSIRIS-REx mission, explains that the Bennu samples contain promises that reveal how organics and water before life formed on the Earth.
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