CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. NASA proudly displayed its groundbreaking first-ever asteroid samples, recently delivered to Earth by a spacecraft. The samples consist of a mosaic of black dust and rubble, making it the most substantial asteroid material ever returned to our planet.
Initially, scientists had expected to collect just a cupful of asteroid material, but the exact quantity extracted from the carbon-rich asteroid known as Bennu, situated nearly 60 million miles (97 million kilometers) from Earth, remains uncertain. This is due to the fact that the main sample chamber remains sealed and unopened, as per officials during an event held at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Lead scientist of the mission, Dante Lauretta from the University of Arizona, explained that the analysis process has been deliberate and meticulous. Nevertheless, it has already begun to yield valuable scientific insights.
NASA’s Osiris-Rex spacecraft gathered these samples three years ago from the surface of Bennu. Last month, the spacecraft completed a flyby of Earth, delivering the sealed capsule containing the samples. Notably, the amount collected was far greater than the mere teaspoon or so that Japan managed to bring back from two previous missions.
The external edge of the internal sample chamber was observed to be scattered with black dust and particles, as reported by Lauretta. He emphasized that there is still an abundance of “extraterrestrial material” waiting to be examined. These samples are priceless as they constitute preserved building blocks from the early stages of the solar system’s formation.
Although attendees at the celebration held at the Johnson Space Center could only view photos and videos, the actual asteroid pieces were stored behind locked doors in a newly established lab at the space center. Access was restricted to scientists in protective gear.
In addition to carbon, the asteroid debris is found to contain water in the form of water-bearing clay minerals, as highlighted by Lauretta and other experts. These minerals may have played a pivotal role in delivering water to Earth billions of years ago, ultimately rendering our planet habitable.
One of the primary objectives of the $1 billion seven-year mission was to gain insights into the formation of the solar system, with a particular focus on Earth. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson underscored the significance of this mission, stating, “You can’t get more exciting than that.”
In 2020, Dante Lauretta and his team experienced an unfortunate setback when the lid of the sample container became jammed just days after the spacecraft collected the material. The container had vacuumed up such a large number of pieces from Bennu that small rocks had become lodged under the lid, preventing it from sealing properly and causing some pieces to drift into space.
As a result of this incident, scientists could not provide an accurate measurement of the material returning to Earth. However, they had estimated approximately 250 grams, roughly equivalent to a cupful, before the capsule’s successful landing in the Utah desert on September 24. A precise measurement will only be possible once the main sample container is opened, a process expected to take place within the next two weeks.
The material showcased during the event was mostly overflow from when the container lid was stuck open, before everything could be sealed inside the return capsule. The largest visible rocks were less than an inch (2.5 centimeters) in size.
Francis McCubbin, NASA’s astromaterials curator, noted that the team already has a considerable amount of sample material to work with, even without accessing the main sample container.
Once the samples are properly archived, they will be distributed to researchers around the world for analysis. A substantial portion will be retained for future investigations when advanced technology becomes available.
In a related development, NASA has another spacecraft prepared for launch from a Florida launch pad later this week. This spacecraft is set to explore a rare metallic asteroid named Psyche, although no samples will be collected or returned.
