2023-10-11 08:07:00
In Washington, on Wednesday, NASA reveals the first images of the largest asteroid sample ever collected in space, in addition to the first analyzes of its composition, in data that scientists around the world are eagerly awaiting. The OSIRIS-REx mission took this sample in 2020 from the asteroid Bennu. The capsule containing the precious payload successfully returned to Earth just over two weeks ago, landing in the American desert. Since then, the delicate process of opening the capsule has been held at the US Space Agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The process has already hidden some surprises. “There is a lot of material that is taking us longer than expected to recover it,” said NASA scientist Christopher Sneed, adding in a statement that this is “the best problem we can have.” Before the capsule landed, the US space agency estimated It was able to capture regarding 250 grams of material from the asteroid Bennu, much more than the amounts collected by two previous Japanese missions from other asteroids. NASA, for which this was the first maneuver, will have to confirm this estimate on Wednesday during a public event followed by a press conference. But The feedback so far is very positive. Christopher Snead explained that materials were found in “abundance” even outside the collection chamber, adding, “It is truly amazing.” “Black dust” The happy surprise can be explained by an incident that occurred when collecting the sample: immediately following the operation, NASA realized that The lid of the collection chamber did not close successfully. The cargo was secured by being transferred as planned to the capsule, but because of this leak, scientists expected to find remains outside the chamber in the box it was located in. This was known as “black dust” and this “debris”, As NASA put it, it was sent to a rapid analysis team in order to get a preliminary idea regarding the composition of the asteroid Bennu. The sample is examined using a scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, and infrared measurements. This would allow obtaining a list of the minerals that were observed, and perhaps Determine its percentage. In particular, scientists believe that the asteroid Bennu contains hydrated minerals. It is expected that studying asteroids will allow scientists to better understand the formation of the solar system, and how the Earth became habitable. Some scientists believe that asteroids such as Bennu brought to Earth compounds that later allowed life to appear. The majority of the sample will be preserved for future generations to study with new, more efficient instruments and to answer new scientific questions. This is what already happened with lunar rocks collected during the Apollo program. Analysis of the asteroid Bennu may also be useful in the future. There is a small possibility (one in 2,700). ) That the asteroid will hit the Earth in the year 2182, a collision that would be catastrophic if it occurred. Therefore, knowing its precise composition can help, if necessary one day, in calculating the collision necessary to divert its path.
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