NASA and Partners Publish First Wave of OSIRIS-REx Mission Data

NASA and its partners have released the first wave of information about the samples collected during the OSIRIS-REx mission. According to NASA, the findings do not provide evidence of life itself, but they do suggest that the conditions necessary for the emergence of life were widespread across the early solar system, increasing the likelihood that life could have formed on other planets and moons.

Autonomous Sampling Technology

The OSIRIS-REx mission employed advanced technology to autonomously acquire rocks and dust from the asteroid Bennu. This asteroid serves as a time capsule, providing insights into the solar system roughly 4.5 billion years ago. After a total journey of 3.9 billion miles, the capsule successfully returned to Earth on September 24, 2023.

Scientific Discoveries

Two papers published in the journal Nature Astronomy and Nature revealed that the samples contained 14 amino acids and five nucleobases also found in life forms on Earth. Additionally, high levels of ammonia and formaldehyde were discovered in the Bennu samples. When these two compounds combine under the right conditions, they can form complex molecules such as amino acids.

Environmental Conditions

The second publication in Nature provided further insights into the environment where these molecules formed. The assessment found evidence of a "brine," identifying a set of minerals that could have been left behind as salt water evaporated.

Implications for the Search for Life

According to Jason Dworkin, OSIRIS-REx project scientist at NASA Goddard, the data from OSIRIS-REx adds significant brushstrokes to a picture of a solar system teeming with the potential for life. The question of why we only see life on Earth and not elsewhere remains a tantalizing mystery.

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