Number of Bennu Asteroids Collected by NASA Exceeds Predictions

NASA finds more Bennu samples than expected (photo: NASA doc)

JAKARTA - The United States Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) made a new announcement about the asteroid Bennu. NASA stated that the number of Bennu that had been collected exceeded their predictions.

Initially, NASA planned to bring 60 gram samples of the asteroid Bennu back to Earth. However, after the sample container was opened and Bennu was examined, NASA found 70.3 grams of rock.

Currently, scientists are still having difficulty opening sample containers, even since Bennu arrived last September. They cannot open the Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM).

This problem arose because two of the 35 fasteners could not be removed with the tools they had. The scientists also had difficulty unscrewing the fasteners because the tools they had didn't fit into the glovebox.

A glovebox is a box used during the sample opening process to keep the nitrogen flow from being exposed to the atmosphere or contaminating anything.

Even though it was difficult to open the TAGSAM, the amount of rock and dust they found was successfully collected from outside the TAGSAM and a small portion from inside the TAGSAM which was taken by holding the mylar cover.

After picking inside TAGSAM with tweezers and a spoon, NASA re-sealed the main container until they found a way to open the sample container in the next few weeks.