Asteroid Bennu shock: Is NASA about to answer the biggest question of humanity? | Science | New



[ad_1]

And, if NASA's experts are right, OSIRIS-Rex is about to answer humanity's most important question: "Where are we from?" Using the OSIRIS-Rex spacecraft, scientists tracked the object around the solar system and plan to land on its surface to collect vital samples to bring back to Earth by 2021.

Scientists believe that the probe could contain traces of water and organic compounds – called "hydrated minerals" by NASA – and could begin to explain the development of life on Earth.

Some scientists have long thought that life came to Earth via an asteroid. What we do not know is if this life came fully formed or if the asteroid contained only the building blocks of life. And that's what excites the NASA team.

Bennu has knocked out experts for decades and many believe that its properties are essential to prove that organic compounds exist outside the solar system.

Beenu is considered a Type B asteroid and has properties similar to those of clay, comparable to those of the Earth, millions of years ago.

Scientists also believe that the asteroid could be part of a much larger object.

It is thought that the space stone could have collided with another asteroid between 700 million and two billion years ago.

Bashar Rizk, a specialist in scientific instruments at OSIRIS-Rex, emphasized the importance of mission for humanity.

Mr. Rizk said, "The story of this asteroid is that of the solar system.

Rich Burns, OSIRIS-REx Project Manager at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, said: "Although OSIRIS-REx was designed to collect a sample of an asteroid with a similar area. At a beach, the extraordinary performance in flight demonstrates that we will be able to meet the challenge of Bennu's rugged terrain.

"This extraordinary performance encompasses not only the spaceship and its instruments, but also the team that continues to meet all the challenges that Bennu launches."

Nightingale, the northernmost site, presents several possible sampling areas on this site, located in a small crater surrounded by a crater 459 feet in diameter.

Kingfisher is located in a small crater 26 feet in diameter, near Bennu's equator, at 11 degrees north latitude. It is also known to have the highest spectral signature for hydrated minerals.

DO NOT MISS

Asteroid TERROR: A former presidential advisor warns of the risks to the Earth
NASA prepares for the arrival of an asteroid "The colossal god of chaos" by 2029
Apocalypse of asteroids: a scientist warns against space rock "destroying the city"

Osprey is located in a slightly larger crater, 66 feet in diameter, also located in the equatorial region of Bennu. Osprey has the highest spectral signature among carbon-rich materials.

Finally, Sandpiper is in a relatively flat area on the wall of a large crater 207 feet in diameter.

Hydrated minerals are also present.

Bennu was discovered on September 11, 1999 after a quasi-terrestrial asteroid survey undertaken by the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research.

Experts have calculated that Bennu has a 2700 chance to touch the Earth between 2175 and 2199.

[ad_2]

Source link