An asteroid named Bennu sample has been returned from space by NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft in a capsule to Earth, containing pristine carbonaceous regolith.
In a seven-year of roundtrip journey through the solar system done by the spacecraft, these samples were collected. The sample weigh around 120 grams for analysis of the molecular structure within Bennu.
The early analysis findings have revealed the essential organic components present in the sample such as carbon and nitrogen. The main component, which is magnesium-sodium phosphate in the sample hints that the asteroid could have splintered off from an ancient, small, primitive ocean world.
The most interesting discovery was the presence of water-soluble phosphates. These compounds are components of biochemistry for all known life on Earth today.
This analysis of the Bennu sample was published on June 26 in Meteoritics & Planetary Science. Additionally, in the findings, the presence of the organic elements proves that the ingredients from which our solar system is made.
Dante Lauretta, co-lead author of the paper and principal investigator for OSIRIS-REx at the University of Arizona, Tucson said in his statement about this discovery that “The presence and state of phosphates, along with other elements and compounds on Bennu, suggest a watery past for the asteroid,” further adding into his statement he said “Bennu potentially could have once been part of a wetter world. Although, this hypothesis requires further investigation.”
The Bennu has a history with water but still, its chemical composition is primitive also it resembles the Sun in elemental propositions.
“The sample we returned is the largest reservoir of unaltered asteroid material on Earth right now,” said Lauretta.
This composition sheds light on the history of our solar system, dating back 4.5 billion years. These rocks have remained in their original state, neither melting nor resolidifying since their creation, confirming their ancient origins.
Bennu’s phosphate in the NASA laboratories under the research revealed its journey from an ancient oceanic realm to our planet.
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