NASA has finally lifted the veil on the first results of the analysis of the samples taken from the asteroid Bennu, thanks to the OSIRIS-REx mission that started in 2020. And the news is exciting: the asteroid is a veritable cornucopia of carbon and water.
The discoveries, announced by the NASA Administrator Bill nelson during a press event at the Johnson Space Center, not only shed new light on the origins of life on our planet, but also open new horizons for understanding our solar system and the evolution of the universe.
Bennu: small asteroid, big answers
The one collected by Bennu is the largest sample of a carbon-rich asteroid ever delivered to Earth. But what exactly does that mean? Carbon is one of the fundamental elements for life as we know it. And that's not all: water, as you know, is a key ingredient for life, and Bennu seems to have that in abundance too.
The clay minerals found in the sample could play a key role in answering big questions. According to scientists at NASA, these minerals may have played an essential role in bringing water to Earth, contributing to the birth of the first life forms. Imagine an asteroid as a giant cosmic “seed,” planted billions of years ago, that has borne fruit.
It's not just the sample in the container that's interesting. Dust and small materials were also found around the scientific container. They could provide further clues about how elements have combined over time and space.
What awaits us now
NASA plans to spend the next two years cataloging the samples and conducting further analysis to help meet the mission's science goals. At least 70% of the Bennu sample will be preserved for future research. This means that scientists from all over the world will have the opportunity to study these precious samples.
And then? The enthusiasm is palpable and will continue to grow. NASA is already preparing another asteroid-based mission, this time towards Psyche, an asteroid rich in metals, including precious ones.
Who can say what other secrets of the universe will be revealed in the coming years?
