Author
Listed:
- D. S. Lauretta
(University of Arizona)
- D. N. DellaGiustina
(University of Arizona)
- C. A. Bennett
(University of Arizona)
- D. R. Golish
(University of Arizona)
- K. J. Becker
(University of Arizona)
- S. S. Balram-Knutson
(University of Arizona)
- O. S. Barnouin
(The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory)
- T. L. Becker
(University of Arizona)
- W. F. Bottke
(Southwest Research Institute)
- W. V. Boynton
(University of Arizona)
- H. Campins
(University of Central Florida)
- B. E. Clark
(Ithaca College)
- H. C. Connolly
(Rowan University)
- C. Y. Drouet d’Aubigny
(University of Arizona)
- J. P. Dworkin
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center)
- J. P. Emery
(University of Tennessee)
- H. L. Enos
(University of Arizona)
- V. E. Hamilton
(Southwest Research Institute)
- C. W. Hergenrother
(University of Arizona)
- E. S. Howell
(University of Arizona)
- M. R. M. Izawa
(Okayama University–Misasa)
- H. H. Kaplan
(Southwest Research Institute)
- M. C. Nolan
(University of Arizona)
- B. Rizk
(University of Arizona)
- H. L. Roper
(University of Arizona)
- D. J. Scheeres
(University of Colorado)
- P. H. Smith
(University of Arizona)
- K. J. Walsh
(Southwest Research Institute)
- C. W. V. Wolner
(University of Arizona)
Abstract
NASA’S Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft recently arrived at the near-Earth asteroid (101955) Bennu, a primitive body that represents the objects that may have brought prebiotic molecules and volatiles such as water to Earth1. Bennu is a low-albedo B-type asteroid2 that has been linked to organic-rich hydrated carbonaceous chondrites3. Such meteorites are altered by ejection from their parent body and contaminated by atmospheric entry and terrestrial microbes. Therefore, the primary mission objective is to return a sample of Bennu to Earth that is pristine—that is, not affected by these processes4. The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft carries a sophisticated suite of instruments to characterize Bennu’s global properties, support the selection of a sampling site and document that site at a sub-centimetre scale5–11. Here we consider early OSIRIS-REx observations of Bennu to understand how the asteroid’s properties compare to pre-encounter expectations and to assess the prospects for sample return. The bulk composition of Bennu appears to be hydrated and volatile-rich, as expected. However, in contrast to pre-encounter modelling of Bennu’s thermal inertia12 and radar polarization ratios13—which indicated a generally smooth surface covered by centimetre-scale particles—resolved imaging reveals an unexpected surficial diversity. The albedo, texture, particle size and roughness are beyond the spacecraft design specifications. On the basis of our pre-encounter knowledge, we developed a sampling strategy to target 50-metre-diameter patches of loose regolith with grain sizes smaller than two centimetres4. We observe only a small number of apparently hazard-free regions, of the order of 5 to 20 metres in extent, the sampling of which poses a substantial challenge to mission success.
Suggested Citation
D. S. Lauretta & D. N. DellaGiustina & C. A. Bennett & D. R. Golish & K. J. Becker & S. S. Balram-Knutson & O. S. Barnouin & T. L. Becker & W. F. Bottke & W. V. Boynton & H. Campins & B. E. Clark & H., 2019.
"The unexpected surface of asteroid (101955) Bennu,"
Nature, Nature, vol. 568(7750), pages 55-60, April.
Handle:
RePEc:nat:nature:v:568:y:2019:i:7750:d:10.1038_s41586-019-1033-6
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1033-6
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Citations
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Cited by:
- K. J. Walsh & R-L. Ballouz & W. F. Bottke & C. Avdellidou & H. C. Connolly Jr & M. Delbo & D. N. DellaGiustina & E. R. Jawin & T. McCoy & P. Michel & T. Morota & M. C. Nolan & S. R. Schwartz & S. Sugi, 2024.
"Numerical simulations suggest asteroids (101955) Bennu and (162173) Ryugu are likely second or later generation rubble piles,"
Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
- A. Lucchetti & S. Cambioni & R. Nakano & O. S. Barnouin & M. Pajola & L. Penasa & F. Tusberti & K. T. Ramesh & E. Dotto & C. M. Ernst & R. T. Daly & E. Mazzotta Epifani & M. Hirabayashi & L. Parro & G, 2024.
"Fast boulder fracturing by thermal fatigue detected on stony asteroids,"
Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
- Colas Q. Robin & Alexia Duchene & Naomi Murdoch & Jean-Baptiste Vincent & Alice Lucchetti & Maurizio Pajola & Carolyn M. Ernst & R. Terik Daly & Olivier S. Barnouin & Sabina D. Raducan & Patrick Miche, 2024.
"Mechanical properties of rubble pile asteroids (Dimorphos, Itokawa, Ryugu, and Bennu) through surface boulder morphological analysis,"
Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
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