Phosphate

Phosphate in NASA’s OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample suggests space rock Bennu originated from an ocean world

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Two pieces of rocky material are seen with blueish areas highlighted.

On September 24, 2023, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft dropped a capsule on Earth containing pristine carbonaceous regolith collected from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu. These samples were obtained after the probe completed an impressive seven-year tour of the solar system and back. Since these pieces of space rock arrived (about 120 grams of sample, to be precise), … Read more

Surprising phosphate finds in NASA’s OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample

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This article was reviewed according to Science fact checked trusted source proofread OK! A small portion of the asteroid Bennu sample returned by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission, shown in microscope images. The top left panel shows a dark Bennu particle, about a millimeter long, with an outer crust of bright phosphate. The other three panels show … Read more

Surprising Phosphate Find in NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample – NASA

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Mineral fragment from OSIRIS-REx's asteroid Bennu sample, seen against a black background. The pieces are predominantly gray, with notable light blue hues flecked throughout. The biggest fragment, triangular, is about a millimeter on a side.

Early analysis of the asteroid Bennu sample returned by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission has revealed dust rich in carbon, nitrogen and organic compounds, all of which are essential components for life as we know it. The sample is dominated by clay minerals, particularly serpentine, and reflects the type of rocks found on Earth at mid-ocean ridges. … Read more