Free Astronomy Magazine November-December 2023

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2023 could threaten Earth while giving us a glimpse into what lies beyond. The sample has made it back to Earth, but there is still so much sci- ence to come – science like we’ve never seen before.” Although more work is needed to understand the nature of the car- bon compounds found, the initial discovery bodes well for future analyses of the asteroid sample. The secrets held within the rocks and dust from the asteroid will be stud- ied for decades to come, offering in- sights into how our solar system was formed, how the precursor materi- als to life may have been seeded on Earth, and what precautions need to be taken to avoid asteroid colli- sions with our home planet. The goal of the OSIRIS-REx sample collection was 60 grams of asteroid material. Curation experts at NASA Johnson, working in new clean boxes and tools to keep the asteroid material pristine and to curate the samples so researchers now and decades from now can study this precious gift from the cosmos.” Within the first two weeks, scien- tists performed “quick-look” analy- ses of that initial material, collecting images from a scanning electron mi- croscope, infrared measurements, X-ray diffraction, and chemical ele- ment analysis. X-ray computed to- mography was also used to produce a 3D computer model of one of the particles, highlighting its diverse in- terior. This early glimpse provided the evidence of abundant carbon and water in the sample. “As we peer into the ancient secrets A view of the outside of the OSIRIS-REx sample collector. Sample material from asteroid Bennu can be seen on the middle right. Scientists have found evidence of both carbon and water in initial analysis of this material. The bulk of the sample is located inside. [NASA/Erika Blumenfeld and Joseph Aebersold] rooms built especially for the mis- sion, have spent 10 days so far care- fully disassembling the sample re- turn hardware to obtain a glimpse at the bulk sample within. When the science canister lid was first opened, scientists discovered bonus asteroid material covering the outside of the collector head, canister lid, and base. There was so much extra material it slowed down the careful process of collecting and containing the primary sample. “Our labs were ready for whatever Bennu had in store for us,” said Vanessa Wyche, director, NASA Johnson. “We’ve had scientists and engineers working side-by-side for years to develop specialized glove-