NASA and JAXA Advance Asteroid Research through Bennu Sample Exchange

The field of asteroid research has achieved another significant milestone with the recent exchange of asteroid samples between NASA and JAXA, Japan’s space exploration agency. NASA has shipped a sample of the asteroid Bennu to JAXA, retrieved by the OSIRIS-REx mission after its successful collection efforts. This collaboration typifies the scientific fraternity's cooperation, sharing landmark achievements that deepen our knowledge of the solar system.

The sample exchange occurred at a special ceremony hosted by JAXA at its Sagamihara Campus, marking an important moment of international scientific partnership. Following the pioneering example set when JAXA provided NASA with samples from asteroid Ryugu in November 2021, this reciprocal act underpins the shared commitment of both agencies to propel scientific understanding and technology in the context of asteroid sampling missions.

The objectives of both the OSIRIS-REx and Hayabusa2 missions are deeply intertwined. They aim to uncover the origins and evolutionary pathways of primitive, organic-rich asteroids, as well as to explore the potential role these space rocks may have played in planetary formation. By analyzing asteroid samples, scientists expect to uncover valuable insights into the formative periods of our solar system.

NASA’s contribution to this endless pursuit of knowledge includes a generous 0.023 ounces (0.66 grams) of the Bennu sample and one of the 24 steel Velcro® pads used to collect dust from the asteroid's surface. Considering the OSIRIS-REx team retrieved a hefty 4.29 ounces (121.6 grams) of material from Bennu, this token represents a significant gesture of scientific camaraderie.

JAXA, which received the Bennu sample in an inert nitrogen atmosphere to preserve its pristine state, now has the responsibility of conducting an initial round of analysis, including weight, imaging, and spectroscopy studies. Optimally preserved in JAXA’s newly expanded curation center, the samples hold the promise of groundbreaking findings as they become available to the international research community.

Preliminary studies on the Bennu samples have already shed light on their composition, revealing particles rich in carbon and nitrogen—elements fundamental to the emergence of life. Scientists have also uncovered the presence of organic molecules, phosphorous, and water-inclusive minerals. These revelations bring us a step closer to understanding the cosmos.

The story these samples narrate is one of ancient lineage, positing that both Bennu and Ryugu may have originated from a primordial celestial body formed beyond Saturn’s orbit. Though transported into the inner solar system, the unique characteristics of each asteroid yield valuable comparative data.

NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center has been pivotal in the mission's oversight, with crucial involvement from institutions like the University of Arizona, Lockheed Martin Space, and the CSA. This latest sample exchange validates the significant roles that international partnerships play in contributing to the success of space missions like OSIRIS-REx, under the aegis of NASA’s New Frontiers Program.

The mission's lofty objectives find resonance in the actions of NASA and JAXA, whose respective dedication to cosmic discovery benefits not only their nations but the entire world. This asteroidal alliance, symbolized by the sharing of Bennu’s valuable sample, is a testament to the collaborative spirit that propels humanity towards the stars.