NASA Opens A Time Capsule From Space And Gets A Shocking Surprise!

On September 26, 2023, at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, the space agency finally unveiled the contents of the space capsule which held the most extensive asteroid sample ever gathered during a space mission. This sample had originated from Bennu, an asteroid catapulting towards Earth with the potential to pose a threat. The capsule was returned to Earth by the OSIRIS-REx mission just two days prior to its unveiling.

As scientists lifted the lid of the sample return canister, their reactions were quite surprising. They were taken aback by the sight of a layer of dark dust and debris covering the avionics deck of the canister. Equally astonishing was the fact that the sample's weight exceeded expectations by an extra 100 grams, contrary to the assumption that it had been securely stored in a sealed container throughout its journey.

The rocks comprising asteroid Bennu have been estimated to be around 4.6 billion years old, making them some of the oldest materials formed in our solar system. An additional “bonus” sample was immediately examined and researchers identified a significant amount of carbon. Additionally, they detected water molecules trapped within the crystalline structure of clay fibers. The presence of abundant carbon and water suggests that the asteroid's composition might contain the fundamental elements necessary for the potential origins of life on our planet.

Over the next two years, scientists from around the world will continue studying the collected samples. Exploring potentially dangerous asteroids such as Bennu enables us to improve our readiness for forthcoming asteroid encounters. The Bennu mission marks a noteworthy advancement in our comprehension of the cosmos and our position in it.

The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has since continued on to its next mission- to explore and study asteroid Apophis- the asteroid that has the potential to come dangerously close to Earth in 2029.

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