Why asteroid Bennu is dangerous and blessing in disguise

Asteroid Bennu’s sample collected by NASA could have twofold benefits to humankind. Not only will this help answer questions about our solar system’s origin, a possible strategy can also be developed to avert Bennu’s possible collision with Earth.

While the chances of a collision are just 0.05% by the year 2300, NASA hopes to learn about the “potentially hazardous” asteroid’s composition through the 250-gram sample.

Asteroid Bennu is considered to be an interstellar threat to Earth, with a possible collision on September 24, 2182. However, the chances remain extremely low. 

The asteroid samples, which were retrieved after a 6.2 billion kilometre journey, will “help us better understand the types of asteroids that could threaten Earth,” NASA chief Bill Nelson said.

As per Hindustan Times the sample, which was delivered by NASA’s OSIRIS- REx, is expected to be carbon-rich and have a crumbly texture.

The pristine samples are believed to be the leftover building blocks from the dawn of our solar system and will help scientists better understand how Earth and life formed.

Also Watch: Video: Space capsule carrying NASA’s first asteroid samples returns to Earth

Osiris-Rex rocketed away on the $1 billion mission in 2016. It reached Bennu two years later and, using a long stick vacuum, grabbed dust and pebbles from the small roundish space rock in 2020.

(With AP inputs)