NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission has revealed the secrets of gray asteroids, providing insights into the evolution of rocky bodies in the solar system. The spacecraft brought back a sample from asteroid Bennu, which is rich in materials from across and beyond our solar system. Scientists have found that these asteroids reflect light at different wavelengths, such as red or blue, depending on their surface composition.
According to Dr. Michelle Thompson, an expert on asteroids and one of the researchers studying the sample, the study has significant implications for future research. By analyzing telemetry and telescope data alongside the actual surface particles, scientists can navigate to and select asteroids for research or mining with greater certainty.
The OSIRIS-REx mission is a cornerstone of planetary science, providing snapshots of the chemistry and composition of the early solar system. The team found that Bennu’s samples are a mixture of materials from across and beyond our solar system, transformed by interactions with water and space weathering.
One of the most fascinating discoveries is that both asteroids Ryugu and Bennu reflect light differently due to space weathering processes. However, the scientists have ruled out surface exposure as the reason for these differences. Instead, they found that the ‘colors’ of the asteroids are changing relative to their surface exposure age.
The study also shed light on the presence of salts, including phosphates, which are essential for life on Earth. The discovery of an ancient brine environment in the Bennu samples provides insights into the precursor compounds for the chemistry of life.
Dr. Thompson believes that understanding these minerals and organic molecules is critical for understanding what elements were present in the early solar system and how they could have seeded life on early Earth. The OSIRIS-REx mission has opened a window to the origin of life on Earth, allowing scientists to examine the origin of our solar system and its potential for supporting life.
This research marks an important step forward in understanding asteroids and their role in the evolution of our solar system. As the field continues to advance, we can expect more discoveries that will shed light on the secrets of these ancient relics and the origins of life itself.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2025-08-decoding-clues-bennu-surface-composition.html