In a significant scientific development, NASA has announced that the asteroid sample it collected from the 4.5-billion-year-old asteroid “Bennu” contains ample water and carbon. This finding provides further evidence for the theory that life on Earth may have originated from outer space.
This remarkable discovery comes after a seven-year round trip to the distant rock, as part of the “OSIRIS-REx” mission, which recently dropped its precious cargo in the Utah desert for scientific analysis.
According to Bill Nelson, NASA’s administrator, “This is the biggest carbon-rich asteroid sample ever returned to Earth.” Carbon, constituting nearly 5% of the sample’s total weight, was found in both organic and mineral forms. Water was trapped within the crystalline structure of clay minerals.
Scientists believe that the presence of oceans, lakes, and rivers on Earth could be attributed to asteroid impacts carrying water over 4 to 4.5 billion years ago, making our planet habitable. Meanwhile, all life forms on Earth rely on carbon, which forms bonds with other elements to produce proteins, enzymes, as well as the fundamental building blocks of genetic code, DNA and RNA.
These findings were obtained through initial analyses, including electron microscopy and computed X-ray tomography. According to scientist Daniel Glavin, much work remains to be done, and the sample will be shared with laboratories worldwide for further study.
It’s worth noting that Bennu is believed to have formed from fragments of a larger asteroid in the asteroid belt, following a massive collision between one and two billion years ago.
While “OSIRIS-REx” is not the first spacecraft to bring asteroid samples for study, the Japanese missions succeeded in this remarkable feat twice, returning celestial dust in 2010 and 2020. However, the quantity collected, approximately 250 grams, is larger than what the Japanese missions returned, with “Hayabusa2” bringing back just 5.4 grams.
Researchers have not focused on the main sample itself yet but have directed their efforts towards the “additional particles” above the sample collection mechanism. Further examination of the remaining sample will follow.
NASA intends to retain at least 70% of the sample in Houston for future studies, a practice that began during the Apollo era with lunar rocks. Ellen Stansberry, Head of the Planetary Materials Research Department at the Johnson Space Center, noted that these samples will be available for new questions, techniques, and tools in the distant future.
In a move of great scientific importance, NASA has unveiled the substantial water and carbon content in the asteroid sample collected from the 4.5-billion-year-old asteroid “Bennu.” This breakthrough supports the idea that life on Earth may have its origins in outer space.
After a seven-year mission, part of the “OSIRIS-REx” project, NASA recently deposited its invaluable cargo in the Utah desert for scientific analysis.
NASA’s administrator, Bill Nelson, highlighted, “This is the most extensive carbon-rich asteroid sample ever repatriated to Earth.” Carbon, making up nearly 5% of the sample’s total weight, was found in organic and mineral forms, while water was trapped within the crystalline structure of clay minerals.
The scientific community believes that asteroid impacts, carrying water, occurred around 4 to 4.5 billion years ago, contributing to the presence of oceans, lakes, and rivers on Earth, ultimately making our planet habitable. Carbon, on the other hand, plays a crucial role in all life forms on Earth, forming bonds with other elements to produce proteins, enzymes, and serving as a fundamental building block of genetic code, including DNA and RNA.
These exciting findings were uncovered through initial analyses, such as electron microscopy and computed X-ray tomography. Scientist Daniel Glavin emphasized that further extensive research is needed, with the sample set to be shared with labs worldwide.
It’s important to note that Bennu is believed to have originated from the remnants of a larger asteroid in the asteroid belt, following a massive collision between one and two billion years ago.
While “OSIRIS-REx” is not the first mission to return asteroid samples for study, Japanese missions accomplished this feat twice, returning celestial dust in 2010 and 2020. However, “OSIRIS-REx” collected a significantly larger quantity, approximately 250 grams, compared to the Japanese missions, which returned only 5.4 grams.
Researchers have so far concentrated their efforts on analyzing the “additional particles” located above the sample collection mechanism, with further examination of the main sample anticipated.
NASA plans to preserve at least 70% of the sample in Houston for future investigations, continuing a practice that began with lunar rocks during the Apollo program. Ellen Stansberry, the Head of the Planetary Materials Research Department at the Johnson Space Center, mentioned that these samples will remain accessible for new inquiries, advanced techniques, and cutting-edge tools in the distant future.
In a significant scientific development, NASA has announced that the asteroid sample it collected from the 4.5-billion-year-old asteroid “Bennu” contains ample water and carbon. This finding provides further evidence for the theory that life on Earth may have originated from outer space.
This remarkable discovery comes after a seven-year round trip to the distant rock, as part of the “OSIRIS-REx” mission, which recently dropped its precious cargo in the Utah desert for scientific analysis.
According to Bill Nelson, NASA’s administrator, “This is the biggest carbon-rich asteroid sample ever returned to Earth.” Carbon, constituting nearly 5% of the sample’s total weight, was found in both organic and mineral forms. Water was trapped within the crystalline structure of clay minerals.
Scientists believe that the presence of oceans, lakes, and rivers on Earth could be attributed to asteroid impacts carrying water over 4 to 4.5 billion years ago, making our planet habitable. Meanwhile, all life forms on Earth rely on carbon, which forms bonds with other elements to produce proteins, enzymes, as well as the fundamental building blocks of genetic code, DNA and RNA.
These findings were obtained through initial analyses, including electron microscopy and computed X-ray tomography. According to scientist Daniel Glavin, much work remains to be done, and the sample will be shared with laboratories worldwide for further study.
It’s worth noting that Bennu is believed to have formed from fragments of a larger asteroid in the asteroid belt, following a massive collision between one and two billion years ago.
While “OSIRIS-REx” is not the first spacecraft to bring asteroid samples for study, the Japanese missions succeeded in this remarkable feat twice, returning celestial dust in 2010 and 2020. However, the quantity collected, approximately 250 grams, is larger than what the Japanese missions returned, with “Hayabusa2” bringing back just 5.4 grams.
Researchers have not focused on the main sample itself yet but have directed their efforts towards the “additional particles” above the sample collection mechanism. Further examination of the remaining sample will follow.
NASA intends to retain at least 70% of the sample in Houston for future studies, a practice that began during the Apollo era with lunar rocks. Ellen Stansberry, Head of the Planetary Materials Research Department at the Johnson Space Center, noted that these samples will be available for new questions, techniques, and tools in the distant future.
