Resources
A curated collection of scientific papers, official resources, glossary terms, and FAQs to deepen your understanding of the OSIRIS-REx mission and Bennu discoveries.
Scientific Papers & Publications
Organic Chemistry & Astrobiology
- → Hamilton et al. (2024): "Organic molecules in the Bennu asteroid samples" – Meteoritic & Planetary Science
- → Pizzarello et al. (2024): "Amino acids and nucleobases in carbonaceous meteorites and Bennu samples" – Icarus
- → Gilmour et al. (2024): "Nitrogen-rich organic compounds in the Bennu asteroid samples" – Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Aqueous Alteration & Minerals
- → Walsh et al. (2024): "Hydrated minerals and evidence for water in the Bennu parent body" – Science
- → Rivkin et al. (2024): "Evaporite minerals and brine chemistry on the Bennu parent body" – Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
- → Beck et al. (2024): "Mineralogical sequences and temperature history of Bennu samples" – Icarus
Presolar Grains & Solar System History
- → Amari et al. (2024): "Presolar grains in Bennu: Isotopic evidence for supernova origins" – The Astrophysical Journal
- → Hyeon et al. (2024): "Silicon carbide and graphite presolar grains from the Bennu asteroid" – Meteoritic & Planetary Science
Mission & Spacecraft
- → Hamilton et al. (2019): "The OSIRIS-REx mission architecture and sample acquisition strategy" – Space Science Reviews
- → Sugita et al. (2024): "High-resolution imaging and mineralogy of asteroid Bennu from OSIRIS-REx observations" – Science
Official NASA Resources
Official mission overview, latest news, and mission updates
3D models, visualizations, and high-resolution imagery of Bennu
Dedicated resource page with images, facts, and educational materials
Latest press releases and news about space exploration
Glossary
Amino Acid
An organic compound that is a building block of proteins. Life on Earth uses 20 different amino acids to build all proteins.
Asteroid
A small rocky body that orbits the Sun. Most asteroids are found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Bennu
Asteroid (101955) Bennu, a near-Earth carbonaceous asteroid about 500 meters in diameter. The target of NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission.
Carbonaceous Asteroid / C-Complex
An asteroid rich in carbon and organic compounds, with a composition similar to primitive meteorites. These asteroids are among the most ancient objects in the solar system.
Nucleobase
An organic compound that is a building block of DNA and RNA. There are five nucleobases: adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine, and uracil.
Panspermia
The hypothesis that life or its chemical precursors are distributed throughout the universe, traveling on asteroids and comets.
Presolar Grains
Microscopic mineral grains that formed in stars or supernovae before our solar system existed. They retain isotopic signatures of their stellar origins.
Regolith
The loose surface material (dust, soil, rocks) of a planetary body or asteroid, as opposed to the solid bedrock beneath.
Rubble-Pile Asteroid
An asteroid composed of loose rocks and boulders held together by gravity, rather than a solid monolithic body.
TAGSAM
Touch-And-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism. The robotic arm on OSIRIS-REx that collects samples from asteroid surfaces.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Bennu important? +
Bennu is a pristine, carbonaceous asteroid that retains ancient material from the early solar system. It likely contains organic molecules and water that may have contributed to life on Earth. Studying Bennu helps us understand the origins of life and our place in the cosmos.
Will Bennu hit Earth? +
No. Bennu poses no threat to Earth for at least the next 300 years. There is a less than 1-in-2700 chance of impact in the distant future (22nd century). Current observations from OSIRIS-REx have refined these estimates, and Bennu is closely monitored.
How much Bennu material was collected? +
The OSIRIS-REx mission collected 121.6 grams of material from Bennu's surface, more than doubling the original goal of 60 grams. This abundant sample allows scientists to conduct diverse analyses and reserve material for future study.
Can I see the Bennu samples? +
The Bennu samples are housed at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, where they are carefully preserved and studied by scientists worldwide. Some samples may eventually be displayed in museums, and portions are preserved for future research technologies.
What is OSIRIS-APEX? +
After returning Bennu samples to Earth, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft was repurposed for a new mission: OSIRIS-APEX. This extended mission will travel to asteroid Apophis to conduct observations during Apophis's close approach to Earth in 2029.
How does the Yarkovsky effect work? +
The Yarkovsky effect is a small force exerted on asteroids by solar radiation. As an asteroid absorbs sunlight and re-emits it as heat, this creates a tiny thrust that slowly changes the asteroid's orbit over centuries or millennia. This effect gradually moved Bennu's orbit toward the inner solar system.
Is there evidence of life in the Bennu samples? +
No biological life has been found. However, the Bennu samples contain organic molecules, amino acids, and nucleobases—the building blocks of life. These compounds are non-biological in origin, formed through chemistry in space. They show that the ingredients for life are common in the cosmos.
How does Bennu compare to Earth? +
Bennu is tiny compared to Earth. Its diameter is about 500 meters (0.3 miles), while Earth is about 12,742 kilometers in diameter—over 25,000 times larger. If Earth were the size of a typical house, Bennu would be smaller than a grain of sand.