Since its arrival in September, samples of Asteroid Bennuwhich was collected by NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission, has sparked intense analysis by scientists.
The mission, which began in 2018, represents a journey that lasted nearly two decades, culminating in the delivery of these parts of the universe to Earth at the end of September.
Scientists have doubts about the material coming from the asteroid
Bennu is an asteroid discovered in 1999 – Illustration: Shutterstock/Buradaki/Reproduction
The analysis revealed rocks ranging from millimeters to centimeters in diameter and with a rough, sticky texture, providing scientists with the first detailed observation of Bennu.
The composition of the samples, revealed by spectroscopic analyzes on December 11, surprised researchers, providing moist, organic-rich remains dating back to the early solar system.
Dante Lauretta, the mission's principal investigator, expressed his satisfaction by saying:
“We certainly have moist, organic-rich remnants from the early solar system, which is exactly what we expected when we first envisioned this mission nearly 20 years ago,” says the scientist.
However, a mystery remains: the dominant blue spectral signature of Bennu's samples.
This property challenges previous notions of Scientists About the presence of water in space rocks, adding a new layer of cosmic mystery.
In addition to the mystery of the blue signature, the richness of carbon and organic matter, with the presence of magnesium, sodium and phosphorus, adds to the unknown.
The material analyzed is only a small part of the total, due to defects in the sample capsule that prevent complete access. Innovative tools and forceps are used to extract samples from the partially open flap.
The final results of the analyses, coming from the Reflection Experiments Laboratory (RELAB) in Rhode Island and the Natural History Museum in London, will be revealed in the Northern Hemisphere spring during a scientific meeting.
During this space search, scientists are eagerly awaiting to uncover the secrets contained in Bennu's samples, which have the potential to provide key information about the origin of our planet. Solar System.
