NASA announced the discovery of “particle plumes erupting” from the surface (Image: NASA)
The findings give clues to the origin of the solar system as well as life on Earth. The US space agency launched a spacecraft to study the asteroid Bennu in 2016 which arrived December 2018. Mission reports from uncrewed OSIRIS-REx comments on the “unexpected surface of asteroid Bennu”.
NASA announced the discovery of “particle plumes erupting” from the surface of the large rock.
Principal investigator Dante Lauretta said in a press conference: “The discovery of plumes is one of the biggest surprises of my scientific career.
“The rugged terrain went against all of our predictions. Bennu is already surprising us, and our exciting journey there is just getting started.”
The “challenging” terrain meant the mission team had to alter its flight and sample collection plans.
