TUCSON, Ariz. - The University of Arizona-led OSIRIS-REx mission has revealed astonishing surprises from asteroid samples collected from Bennu, a near-Earth asteroid located over 170 million miles away from Earth.

Groundbreaking Discoveries

After years of meticulous preparation, researchers at the University of Arizona have finally had the opportunity to analyze these extraordinary rock and dust samples. The samples are the largest ever returned from an asteroid, offering invaluable insights into the early solar system.

"These samples are a scientific treasure trove. From the earliest stages of the formation of the solar system, these rocks formed before the Earth existed," said Dante S. Lauretta, a professor at the University of Arizona.

Mission Overview

The OSIRIS-REx mission, which stands for Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer, was launched in 2016 with the ambitious goal of reaching and studying Bennu. The spacecraft arrived at the asteroid in 2018, spent nearly two years mapping and collecting data, and then successfully collected samples from Bennu’s surface. The spacecraft returned these samples to Earth in September 2023.

Detailed Findings

The analysis of the Bennu samples has revealed several surprising discoveries. One of the most unexpected findings was the presence of salty crusts on some of the particles. "The biggest surprise for me is that there are salty crusts coating a subset of the particles," said Lauretta. He likened these crusts to the white, crusty salts that build up from hard water in household fixtures, indicating that a similar process involving salty liquid evaporation occurred on Bennu.

Scientific Analysis

The samples, consisting of rocks and dust, have been examined under atomic microscopes at the University of Arizona. This detailed analysis has provided significant insights into Bennu’s composition and history, suggesting that the asteroid may have once been part of an ocean world. "They're the kinds of rocks that form on the sea floor at hydrothermal vents on Earth," Lauretta explained. "They are full of clay minerals, salts, organic compounds. So we're really peering back to the beginning of our solar system and getting a good understanding of how water and organic material formed, and then ultimately was delivered to our planet to make it the habitable world that we enjoy today."

Broader Implications

The discovery of these materials on Bennu supports theories about the distribution of organic compounds and water in the early solar system, potentially offering clues about the origins of life on Earth. The presence of hydrothermal minerals suggests that Bennu, or its parent body, could have had liquid water at some point, which is a critical element for life as we know it.

Future Research

The Bennu samples will continue to be studied extensively. NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston will distribute portions of the sample to dozens of laboratories across the United States and around the world. These labs will conduct further analyses, expanding our understanding of the asteroid and its implications for planetary science.

Continued Exploration

The success of the OSIRIS-REx mission marks a significant milestone in space exploration. It not only provides valuable scientific data but also paves the way for future missions to asteroids and other celestial bodies. The knowledge gained from Bennu could inform future asteroid mining endeavors, space travel, and our broader understanding of the solar system’s history.

Conclusion

The OSIRIS-REx mission has delivered a treasure trove of scientific data that is already transforming our understanding of the early solar system. As researchers continue to analyze the Bennu samples, they expect to uncover even more secrets about the building blocks of our planet and the potential for life beyond Earth. This mission stands as a testament to human ingenuity and the relentless pursuit of knowledge.

For more detailed updates on the findings from the Bennu samples, follow the latest reports from the University of Arizona and NASA.