Asteroid Bennu Samples Are Leaking From A Jammed NASA Spacecraft

NASA's asteroid sampling aircraft OSIRIS-REx, which touched asteroid Bennu last week to grab its dust and bring to Earth for study, has collected such abundant quantity of asteroid particles that its door got jammed and now these particles are leaking slowly in the space.

Also read: NASA's Robotic Spacecraft OSIRIS-REx Touches Down On Asteroid Bennu's Surface

NASA

This may lead to a significant loss of the collected sample. Scientists won't know how much asteroid sample will the aircraft be able to hold, so they will have to wait until it is back on Earth.

Scientists are speculating that bits of material are passing through small gaps where the collector¡¯s lid is slightly wedged open by larger rocks.

¡°We¡¯re almost a victim of our own success here," the mission¡¯s lead scientist, Dante Lauretta of the University of Arizona said in a statement. Fortunately, OSIRIS-REx is in good health, and the mission team is finalising a timeline for sample storage.

Also read: Scientists Hopeful For Signs Of Alien Life On Asteroid Bennu

NASA (NASA's OSIRIS-REx)

¡°Bennu continues to surprise us with great science and also throwing a few curveballs. And although we may have to move more quickly to stow the sample, it¡¯s not a bad problem to have. We are so excited to see what appears to be an abundant sample that will inspire science for decades beyond this historic moment," said Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA¡¯s associate administrator for science.

Also read: NASA Probe OSIRIS-REx Will Touch Down On Asteroid Bennu In October to Collect Rock Samples

NBC

This is NASA's first attempt to collect asteroid Bennu sample. These particles are precious for scientists as it might help them answer some important questions like - Where did we come from and how planets, the sun came into being.