The brine contains compounds that have never been previously observed in asteroid samples, including compounds of sodium carbonate.
Two studies published today inNatureandNature Astronomyreveal some of the first analyses done of theBennusamples.
The only thing missing, it would seem, were little green men.
Researcher Jason Dworkin holds a vial of asteroid Bennu sample from NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission, delivered to Earth in 2023.© NASA/James Tralie
NASA successfully brought the samples to Earths surface andafter somedifficultiesopened the canistercontaining the rocky bits.
We have discovered that next step on a pathway to life.
As the sodium-rich water on Bennu evaporated, it left behind crusty mineral residue.
An artist’s impression of OSIRIS-REx digging into Bennu. Image: NASA
The new findings add promise and intrigue to that hype.
This is the kind of finding you hope youre going to make on a mission, McCoy said.
We found something we didnt expect, and thats the best reward for any kind of exploration.
Scanning electron microscope image of trona, or soda ash, in the Bennu sample. Image: Rob Wardell, Tim Gooding and Tim McCoy, Smithsonian.
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