CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA on Wednesday confirmed off its first asteroid samples delivered final month by a spacecraft — probably the most ever returned to Earth.
Scientists and area company leaders took half within the reveal at Johnson Area Heart in Houston.
The traditional black mud and chunks are from the carbon-rich asteroid named Bennu, nearly 60 million miles away. NASA’s Osiris-Rex spacecraft collected the samples three years in the past after which dropped them off sealed in a capsule throughout a flyby of Earth final month.
Scientists anticipated no less than a cupful of rocks, excess of what Japan brought back from a pair of missions years ago. They’re nonetheless undecided concerning the actual amount. That’s as a result of the principle pattern chamber has but to be opened, officers mentioned.
“It’s been going gradual and meticulous,” mentioned the mission’s lead scientist, Dante Lauretta of the College of Arizona.
Black mud and particles have been scattered across the outdoors fringe of the chamber, in response to Lauretta.
“Already that is scientific treasure,” he mentioned.
Apart from carbon, the asteroid rubble holds water within the type of water-bearing clay minerals, mentioned NASA Administrator Invoice Nelson.
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