Bennu asteroid samples reach Earth

2023/09/25 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Astrofisika
• Astronautika
• Astronomia

Seven years after its launch into space, the OSIRIS-REx ship flew over Earth to deposit the Bennu asteroid samples on Earth. NASA donated the landing and recovery directly and has confirmed the success of the mission.

NASA launched the OSIRIS-REx in 2016 and in 218 Bennu began orbiting. In 2020, he took 250 grams of stones and dust from the asteroid's surface and went to Earth in May 2021. Finally, the sample was released yesterday inside a capsule and, by bumping, was successfully shot down in the Utah Test and Training Area (USA).

From there it was collected by the recovery team with special measures to avoid contamination. This week the capsule contents will be analysed and the first results will be given on 11 October. However, the study will last two years and will be conducted among several international groups. They will not use the full sample, as they will reserve a part to investigate in the future, hoping that there are more developed techniques and that they can get more information.

In fact, Bennu was formed at the beginning of the solar system, so he can provide valuable data on its evolution. In addition, it's rich in carbon, one of the basic elements of life, which makes it especially interesting.

In addition to Bennur, samples of the other two asteroids also reached the ground on Japanese missions: Itokawa and Ryfo.