The Bennu asteroid, which has a 1 in 2,700 or 0.037% chance of hitting our planet in 2182, has been on the agenda for some time. The spacecraft sent to this asteroid by NASA OSIRIS-RExIt sent information that it had landed on the target asteroid in 2020. Recently, our spacecraft returned safely to our planet with its samples and landed in Utah, USA.

First time On September 8, 2016 target of the launched OSIRIS-REx Am now The asteroid was thought to be 4.5 billion years old. We’re glad he returned safely, but many people aren’t sure why the samples delivered with this spacecraft are important. We will explain this.

What will success bring us after 7 years?

Bennu asteroid, as we said before 4 and a half billion years old. At least that is what scientists’ calculations show. This indicates that the asteroid was formed at the same time as our solar system was beginning to form. This is the solar system antediluvian substances and amino acids can be found on an asteroid resources.

OSIRIS-REx The middleman was also sent to collect these materials. The materials, which are strictly protected to prevent contact with substances in the atmosphere, are sent to various research centers for examination. Some of these will be investigated in the coming years will be saved is also mentioned.

To better understand the importance of asteroids, we can look at the following definition from scientist Fred Jourdan: “They are the objects that enable the formation of planets. first stones.”

The materials of this sample, which weigh between 149 and 350 grams, are not much different from the meteorites that impact Earth. So what makes Bennu special?

enter the atmosphere of our planet meteoritesAccording to scientists, it is exposed to materials in the atmosphere, and therefore – although the substances falling on our planet have been examined – it is not possible to examine its pure form in space. When they fall to the ground, they are exposed to things like soil and snow. For this reason Am now The asteroid is important because it has been examined in situ and its materials still maintain their structures in space.

So why Bennu and not another asteroid?

First of all, Bennu is very important for our planet. close to. Moreover, its motion around the sun is similar to that of our planet. Furthermore, Bennu’s size is compared to other small asteroids because it is a little bigger Landing the spacecraft is also easier.

Like wine old Bennu, as we can say, contains very old material due to its age. It is predicted that these materials may even be older than our solar system. That’s why the Bennu samples were actually excavated. historical documents can be seen as. Of course we will see these after the investigations.

It may not have come into contact with our planet, but did this asteroid remain untouched in space?

Honestly, Bennu’s 1 or 2 billion years It is thought that it was initially involved in a large collision, but scientists believe that is the originality of the structure not significantly affected there stands that.

Furthermore, NASA states that Bennu will allow us to understand the role asteroids play in providing the materials that enable the formation of life on the planet.

For from Bennu It is very likely that the samples taken contain organic molecules rich in carbon. Apart from carbon, the minerals that make up the asteroid in water People think so.

Historically it has been so rich molecules Bennu, which contains various materials, can also accelerate future space tourism and resource (fuel) research. NASA states that many companies are working to extract these resources from asteroids rich in iron and aluminum. In this regard asteroids, they could possibly serve as a gas station in the future. Another important thing to take from this is that the Bennu sample, fresh from space, could play a key role in our understanding of other asteroids.

Let’s briefly explain the last item, the Yarkovsky effect.

relatively small astronomical objectsIt rotates on its own axis, just like our planet. Therefore, those who do this around the sun or other stars have a light and a dark side. The side exposed to light also reflects some of the incoming photons and absorbs others. That’s why the illuminated side gets hot.

heated side when it gets dark As it cools, these absorbed photons are released again. Meanwhile, force is applied to the asteroid depending on the direction of rotation, and in this context the asteroid speeds up or slows down. OSIRIS-REx The intermediary was sent to closely monitor this effect and to see to what extent it was achieved. If this research, carried out especially for Bennu, makes it possible to predict the orbits of other asteroids, they will be able to see which asteroid will pass close to our planet on which date.

Bennu for example in the year 2135 It is predicted to be closer to Earth than the Moon. 2175 and 2195 According to NASA, the years will be even closer. While it seems unlikely that it will hit our planet, those who will live during that time will be able to discover how to escape the effects of other asteroids by looking at the current OSIRIS-REx study.

All these factors and other technical details we have not mentioned make the OSIRIS-REx project crucially important in the field of space studies and space history.