2024-02-26 09:12:10
Scientists are focusing on studying small moons as nearby and accessible sources of samples that may reveal the history of the ancient solar system.
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission has revealed the presence of biological components on the asteroid Bennu, enhancing our understanding of the origins of life on Earth.
NASA and international space agencies continue to explore asteroids and small moons and collect samples to fully understand the scientific significance of these discoveries and to better understand the formation and evolution of the solar system.
In an exciting development in the field of space exploration, recent research has revealed important discoveries in… Solar System It contains valuable evidence about its origins and formation. Scientists are moving towards studying space rocks, which serve as keys to deciphering the cosmic secrets surrounding us. In this context, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission achieved a milestone in October 2023, by detecting the presence of water and carbon on the surface of the 4.5 billion-year-old asteroid Bennu, strengthening the theory that these components may have played a crucial role in the emergence of life on Earth. the earth.
In light of these discoveries, there is a growing interest in these small objects, known as “mini-moons” or quasoons, that follow orbits influenced by the gravity of the Earth and other bodies in the solar system. According to Richard Benzel, a professor of planetary science at MIT, these objects may provide a unique opportunity to explore the history of the ancient solar system.
Benzel believes that the “mini-moons” underwent a “pinball-like” experience within the inner solar system, leading them to settle into orbits relatively close to Earth. These objects, thanks to their proximity to Earth, provide an opportunity for scientists to obtain samples at lower costs and time compared to missions directed to more distant asteroids such as Bennu.
Although the origin of small moons is still a topic of research and debate, Paul Appel, NASA’s chief small-body exploration scientist, suggests that they may be coming from the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Appel considers them “time capsules” reflecting the conditions of the early solar system.
This approach is consistent with other missions such as those by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), which in 2019 was able to extract samples from the asteroid Ryugu, discovering ancient stardust and organic materials, including many amino acids that organisms use to build Proteins that make up things like hair and muscles. These results indicate the importance of collecting samples directly from their cosmic sources to better understand the formation and evolution of the solar system.
Collecting samples from small moons could help alleviate some of the big problems in current asteroid research. In most cases, scientists study pieces of asteroids that fell to Earth in the form of meteorites. This could still teach us information about the early formation of the solar system, but it may be difficult to analyze depending on the state it is in, Appel said.
He added: “When a meteorite falls to Earth, it is already contaminated” with moisture and gases present in the Earth’s atmosphere. And when you’re talking about organic molecules and water — more volatile materials — going to the source and knowing what’s there is really important. “That’s why we want to do these sample return missions, like OSIRIS REx.”
It is worth noting that these discoveries come at a time when NASA and other space agencies continue to explore asteroids and small moons to reveal more secrets of the universe. For his part, Dante Lauretta, OSIRIS-REx mission manager, stressed that the preliminary results are just the beginning, emphasizing the need for more studies to fully understand the scientific importance of these discoveries. With advances in technology and knowledge, humanity’s journey to understand our place in the universe and the conditions that allowed life to exist on our planet continues.
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