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Asteroid Bennu's Origins Revealed

Ancient Carbon Gives New Details About Asteroid Bennu

When NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft returned to Earth in September 2023, it carried with it a precious cargo: samples from the asteroid Bennu. These samples are providing scientists with new insights into the early history of our solar system.

One of the most important findings from the OSIRIS-REx mission is that Bennu is made up of ancient carbon-rich material. This material is thought to have formed in the protoplanetary disk, the swirling cloud of gas and dust that surrounded the young Sun.

The presence of ancient carbon on Bennu suggests that the asteroid formed very early in the history of the solar system, perhaps even before the Earth itself. This makes Bennu a valuable target for study, as it could provide clues about the conditions that existed in the early solar system.

Bennu May Be a Piece of a Larger Body

Another important finding from the OSIRIS-REx mission is that Bennu may be a piece of a larger body that was once destroyed. This is based on the fact that Bennu has a very porous structure, which is not typical of asteroids.

One possible explanation for Bennu's porosity is that it was once part of a larger body that was shattered by a collision. The impact would have ejected Bennu from the larger body, and the resulting debris would have formed the asteroid's current porous structure.

If Bennu is indeed a piece of a larger body, it could provide clues about the types of collisions that occurred in the early solar system. This information could help scientists to better understand the formation and evolution of our solar system.

Bennu's Surface May Have Been Altered by Water

The OSIRIS-REx mission also found evidence that Bennu's surface may have been altered by water. This is based on the presence of certain minerals on the asteroid's surface that are typically associated with water.

One possible explanation for the presence of these minerals is that Bennu was once orbiting closer to the Sun, where it was exposed to more heat. This heat could have melted ice on Bennu's surface, creating a liquid water environment.

If Bennu's surface was once covered in water, it could have implications for the search for life in the solar system. This is because water is essential for life as we know it. The presence of water on Bennu's surface suggests that the asteroid could have once been a habitable environment.