NASA has opened a capsule to collect rock samples from the asteroid Bennu. It turned out that black dust and sand-sized powder were found. Preparing to hold a major press conference to announce the results of analyzing these samples next month.
On September 27, 2023, scientists at the US Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) revealed on social media that they had found “black dust and sand-like powder” inside the capsule from the Osiris-Rex spacecraft. After NASA scientists opened the capsule, which was gently released by parachute in the desert of Utah in the western United States on Sunday, September 24, after sending the Osiris-Rex spacecraft into space since 2018 to collect rock samples from the asteroid Bennu.
The “scientific treasure chest” found “black dust and powder the size of a grain of sand” inside the capsule’s lid and base, and NASA published the message and photos via its original Twitter account.
Meanwhile, NASA also said in a statement that opening the aluminum capsule lid is performed in the laboratory where gloves must be worn. Scientists wore heavy protective suits to examine what was inside the capsule containing rock samples from the asteroid Bennu.
NASA also reports that NASA scientists are now eagerly waiting to begin analyzing these samples of material collected from the asteroid Bennu. This requires analyzing the complex parts of these organisms. A major press conference is scheduled to be held next October 11 to reveal data on the analysis of objects coming from this asteroid.
NASA sent the Osiris-Rex spacecraft. Traveling to the asteroid Bennu, which has a diameter of about 500 meters, since 2016 to collect 250 grams of dust samples from the asteroid Bennu and return them to Earth.
Scientists believe that sample of material collected from the asteroid Bennu. Which contains carbon as a main element and will help scientists understand our solar system better. How did Earth become a habitable planet? While Bennu is still classified as a “near-Earth object,” a dangerous asteroid could collide with our planet within the next 100 years or so.