Asteroid Bennu’s Surprising Surface Revealed by NASA Spacecraft

Near-Earth asteroid Bennu is a rubble pile of rocks and boulders left over from the formation of the solar system. On October 20, 2020, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft briefly touched down on Bennu and collected a sample for return to Earth. During this “TAG event,” the spacecraft’s arm sank far deeper into the asteroid than expected, confirming that Bennu’s surface is incredibly weak. Now, scientists have used data from OSIRIS-REx to revisit the TAG event and better understand how Bennu’s loose upper layers are held together.
Read more: www.nasa.gov/f...
Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab/SVS
Dan Gallagher (KBRwyle): Producer
Jonathan North (KBRwyle): Lead Animator
Kel Elkins (USRA): Lead Data Visualizer
Alexander Bodnar (AIMM): Animator
Adriana Manrique Gutierrez (KBRwyle): Animator
Walt Feimer (KBRwyle): Animator
Lisa Poje (Freelance): Animator
Dan Gallagher (KBRwyle): Narrator
Dante Lauretta (The University of Arizona): Lead Scientist
Kevin Walsh (SwRI): Scientist
Ronald Ballouz (JHUAPL): Scientist
Olivier Barnouin (JHUAPL): Scientist
Rani Gran (NASA/GSFC): Public Affairs Officer
Nancy Neal-Jones (NASA/GSFC): Public Affairs Officer
James Tralie (ADNET): Support
Ernie Wright (USRA): Support
Aaron E. Lepsch (ADNET): Technical Support
Universal Production Music: “Difficult Conversation” and “Into Motion” by Peter Larsen; “Big Data” by Dominique Dalcan; “Subsurface” by Ben Niblett and Jon Cotton; “Crypto Current” by Dominique Dalcan; “Spaceman” by Rainman
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[@dangolfishin]

I imagine you could mine an asteroid like this with nothing more than a vacuum

[@mathewmantas]

I don't know if it was intentional but I see what you did there 😂

[@stevenbisaillon7321]

Space is essentially a vacuum already.

[@dangolfishin]

@@stevenbisaillon7321 lol. Very astute

[@peterweller8583]

Ha ha ha ha you are a special person aren't you? Of-course you are.

[@andrewkerr3836]

That idea sucks. 😄

[@justincase9463]

So basically it’s just a massive dust bunny. 😊

[@sciencetroll6304]

I think not. It has a quite definite overall shape.

[@sociallyinept5430]

With something dense enough to attract dust

[@inesis]

OSIRIS-REx spacecraft was truly groundbreaking...

[@DevrajsinhJhala]

Haha!

[@TieDyeVikki]

I see what you did there....

[@rayenwoz499]

Aaaaaah haha👉🏼👉🏼

[@Kirbedev]

I know right

[@adamhuffman3354]

Yea. It was pretty awesome!

[@AnotherGlenn]

I wonder how much material was put into orbit around Bennu and how much escaped.

[@mattoppoly3665]

I'd imagine none of it was put into orbit, you could probably reach escape velocity by jumping, since it has very little gravity

[@stolearovigor281]

Depends how much you want. They can paint anything in Photoshop

[@NJ-rn7wu]

@@stolearovigor281 wdym?

[@stephendatgmail]

@@NJ-rn7wu He means his peabrain can’t fathom how people with fancy learning can accomplish things he can’t, so he comforts himself by imagining it’s all faked.

[@NJ-rn7wu]

@@stephendatgmail that makes sense.

[@bennoejsing1242]

Nice to hear ones name mentioned so many times

[@richardwatterstan]

You're a cool guy, Benno!

[@stevenpilling5318]

It's amazing that these asteroids can hold together at all.

[@MichaelKingsfordGray]

No it isn't.

[@KK-pq6lu]

Amazing “scientists” did not take into account static surface charge. Cohesion is practically irrelevant without an earth ground and without humidity.

[@andrebrodbeck384]

Just physics!

[@Wardr0p]

Not that amazing, its just sort of what happens - now if it got his by another asteroid it would be a huge mess.

[@stolearovigor281]

You can do whatever you want with a computer. Any cartoons.

[@PlayhouseRage]

Bennu is getting Medicare and a gang of robo calls for extended auto warranty

[@timsmith6675]

@NASA Goddard, Great videos and explanations to us amateur science enthusiasts

[@pjcouture9944]

ROFL..you mean sheeple!!!

[@SalvableRuin]

Someday you'll be a professional science enthusiast

[@TonyWud]

@@pjcouture9944 Dullard

[@pjcouture9944]

@@SalvableRuin real scienxe maybe!!

[@stolearovigor281]

You are cartoons enthusiasts 😂😂😂 you have no idea about scince and what actually it means.

[@oksyar]

So if Bennu were to hit earth, it'll most likely collapse into very small pieces in atmosphere and disintegrate. Unless its inner core is like a solid metal. If.

[@lebronjamesharden3958]

or will it?

[@if5566]

You called?

[@AverageAlien]

No chance, its massive, no matter what breaks off it will still cause catastrophe

[@wilhelmmeyer89]

Are you blind. Obviously it is an alien spaceship cloaked in rocks.

[@abutusundaypeter2464]

So fascinating!!!

[@udoposthuma3497]

Interesting video! And what an archievement for this crew from NASA! Nice to see how an operation like this exactly works. Thanks for sharing!😀

[@JustAboutAnything66]

So it's basically a cluster of granola. When you touch it, crumbs fly everywhere!

[@IsaacGerken]

Liquid rock asteroids, awesome. Wonder how long it'll take this little nugget of info finds its way into a sci fi movie.

[@olivierbolton8683]

Space will always remain fascinating...thank you NASA

[@23lkjdfjsdlfj]

Bennu size: 565 x 535 x 508 m, Mass: 7.33e10 kg, closest distance from Earth: 482,120 km.

[@chrisantoniou4366]

Correction: - Mass 7.33e10 kg - 250 g...

[@azuwan]

@@chrisantoniou4366 current mass: 7.33e10kg -6 t, 250g

[@brucetutton7897]

I would have guessed electrostatic attraction would dominate over gravity as a binding force. Can any experts chip in with a ratio of forces? Well done team.

[@freyatilly]

Nice comment. That seems very logical. Hope to read some responses.

[@maxlove4906]

You are, of course, absolutely correct

[@matthewhyungjunahn]

electro static would be localized attraction where as gravity accumulates with more mass

[@markpmar0356]

Gravity is not a force.

[@ImieNazwiskoOK]

Source and why?

[@ylilycam]

What an amazing feat!!

[@benkayvfalsifier3817]

So is it possible that many asteroids are not a solid rock, but actually just a bunch of rocks, pebbles, and dust?

[@contessa.adella]

And prolly ice or frozen gases.

[@jichaelmorgan3796]

Kinds like a loosely packed snow ball?

[@jamesnordblom855]

Maybe because things appear different to 77 year old parts (me) but that is not what I would have termed a "soft" touch down. Would have probably jarred me enough to fall. Inertia.

[@Ryan-uk4wu]

it was shown at 17 times speed

[@thomasdaum1927]

Jarred you ??? Really!…..

[@jamesnordblom855]

@@thomasdaum1927 Bad veins

[@thomasdaum1927]

@@jamesnordblom855 🤔

[@wietsepruijmpie1922]

great visualisations!

[@midsummerKNlGHT]

Expectation: frozen solid interstellar rock Result: ball pit softness lolol

[@itsmootdamnitnotmute905]

Thanks NASA! That's some truly interesting information.

[@anthonyontv]

Disinformation*

[@mollyfilms]

Feels like science fiction but it’s real. Amazing! What a feat of engineering and maths.

[@BatMan-co1gy]

well, being that this video is just an artist rendering, it may be

[@mollyfilms]

@@BatMan-co1gy you mean it’s not real? A bit like you then?

[@edwin2600]

Thanks! It's great to see videos about real space exploration.

[@weseehowcommiegoogleis3770]

Bet you believe in Santa?

[@oO0catty0Oo]

@@weseehowcommiegoogleis3770 Bet you're fun at parties

[@anthonyontv]

Hmmm….define “real”

[@skipwilson5086]

A charcoal briquet impresses you? Bet you think Biden really got 81 million votes too huh???

[@Ante_Knezevic]

Not one (1) person with a degree in maths, physics, chemistry deny space. Only bums do.

[@yvc9]

Imagine if that gentle tag ends up diverting its orbit to eventually hit earth someday? Good times.

[@stickynorth]

Or if we find its valuable enough to mine into nothingness...

[@NightriderXP1]

This stuff never ceases to amaze me. To infinity and beyond!!!

[@davidsheckler8417]

To a physiological cell with padding 👍

[@maxlove4906]

Buzz Lightyear's just as real, too! 🤣

[@radiohead2206]

​@@maxlove4906Well Dahhh. Why else would there be a movie about him?

[@kikufutaba524]

Simply amazing. Thank you for posting this documentary.

[@BeachcomberNZ]

Bennu is certainly a strange object!

[@AverageAlien]

Not at all

[@nickbeck6748]

So does this change some of our understanding of asteroids and our ability to break up or "redirect" one headed towards earth?

[@nzuckman]

How fast was Osiris rex coming in when it contacted Benu? It's bonkers that it would move 6 tons of material from what looks like a slow approach.

[@philgroves7694]

It's approach and touch-down velocity was mentioned as 10 cm/s. That equates to about 0.22 miles per hour. A normal human walking pace is about 3.5 miles per hour (or 156.5 cm/s). So - pretty darn slow.

[@CrazyFunnyCats]

Good question

[@Kittysniffles888]

10cm/second - average walking pace of an insect

[@tonyp2632]

3:25 Someone wasn't listening 🤦‍♂️

[@nzuckman]

@@tonyp2632 pardon my ADHD :o)

[@Erdal_Gumus]

This discovery will definitely reshape future asteroid missions and probe designs

[@jackieking1522]

Thank you.... life affirming stuff when all around seems so benighted.

[@blakespower]

its just a huge bundle of sand and boulders

[@oneeyejack2]

Would that facilitate asteroid mining ? maybe we just need some kind of gas blower and a hoover thing to collect materials

[@lc285]

I find it more entertaining scientists are unexpectedly surprised by their expected results.

[@kethakathalpage.5209]

How are you, My name is Kulith Kethaka. I am 14 years old. My school is Siri Piyarathana Central College and I am Sri Lankan. I like astronomy very much. What tests are you doing these days? Can you please send me some details and pictures about it?

[@theoPhobiaz]

Good. Harry Stamper and team will make quick work of drilling to 800 ft.

[@tiskook97]

Long time ago I want to be a NASA's scientist

[@wisanu99]

And now?

[@lecturesfromleeds614]

Want or wanted?

[@tiskook97]

@@wisanu99 now my dreams are dead

[@tiskook97]

@@lecturesfromleeds614 wanted

[@googleuser4955]

@@tiskook97 lol 😂😂😂

[@jimhofoss9982]

displace 12 tonnes at collection site, and get a 12 ounce sample, lol

[@Roblstar]

It is often best when a mistake is bigger than conceved? Mainly because, a bigger mistake, if you do wallk away from it... Will teach youu much more... ;)

[@CarlosPerez-vy3ck]

Traducir a español

[@elisedoyle5092]

Absolutely incredible 🇿🇦

[@dannyarcher6370]

Howzit!

[@conservativemike3768]

Future mining operations just got a little more complicated.

[@TieDyeVikki]

Seems like it would be easier to me.... think vacuums, not drills.....

[@conservativemike3768]

@@TieDyeVikki / LOL… Vacs require an atmosphere!

[@TieDyeVikki]

@@conservativemike3768 But maybe my idea just sucks......

[@conservativemike3768]

@@TieDyeVikki / I believe further research is needed… perhaps a govt grant is in order

[@Symbolsysteme]

It always blows my mind what technology can do!!!

[@Khether0001]

Go NASA !

[@bnln1939]

Was it just me or did that Asteroid look like a charcoal briquette? What a interesting video.

[@TeslaTales59]

Excellent work!

[@chrisantoniou4366]

Excellent subject and coverage!

[@sallyweiner4180]

Just incredible

[@maxlove4906]

You're right... it is wholly incredible!!

[@arthurwagar6224]

Interesting. Well presented. Thanks for good stuff.

[@twstf8905]

Awesome 👍

[@pairashootpants5373]

This was an amazing accomplishment

[@whiskey1minute978]

Ar you sure it's name isn't "Kingsford".

[@joegug4751]

When you think about it it’s really mind boggling

[@fanatamon]

That is so cool.

[@keithbrown2458]

An outstanding and fascinating mission thank you for sharing this

[@Astrolavista]

Amazing, thanks! We just never know anything for certain until we see it for ourselves. Take Pluto as another example!

[@BatMan-co1gy]

this video is just an artist rendering, sooo

[@TieDyeVikki]

@@BatMan-co1gy At 0:46 there are some real images.

[@DwayneETowns]

Great genius work of science and aerospace technology!

[@VirtuelleWeltenMitKhan]

very cool mission I would be a little scared to "hit a bigger chunk" and getting no material at all

[@pstuddy]

that is amazing animation!

[@danielbuss942]

human's have come a long way one day they will find life out their some where more than likely after im gone

[@moncaman1]

Excellent channel thank you good stuff..🕵️🧐👍✨...😎

[@lapplandsjagare]

🙋🏻‍♂️ hello from Sweden 🇸🇪

[@maxlove4906]

Hejsan! 🇸🇪

[@Constitution1789]

*sneeze* Asteroid Bennu is no more.

[@gregoryallen0001]

this was a really compelling video thank you

[@mr.rainbowlovescoffee]

That's not a very nice neighbor you just floats up there and takes up space 🚀🤣

[@jessicawinslet684]

Amazing !! Now if they could only find water in flint Michigan it would be even more amazing

[@stabbityjoe7588]

There is no such thing

[@tboman4128]

They have water....

[@JoeOutdoors]

All kinds of water in Flint if you don't mind it killing you.

[@tboman4128]

@@JoeOutdoors That's been taken care of fool.

[@JoeOutdoors]

@@tboman4128 You don't get sarcasm do you fool?

[@curtisharrison1607]

There may have been a electrical discharge as well.

[@cordatusscire344]

Amazing.

[@perryedwards4746]

Wow!!

[@Repz98]

Like a dark joke touching people of today.

[@carowj]

It’s a giant charcoal briquette :-)

[@erichfeit7779]

Yes, thanks for this interesting information. Erich from New Zealand

[@edgufler1122]

Fascinating video. Thank you very much for sharing it with us.... we all enjoyed it.

[@123Goldhunter11]

Now they just need to find a golden asteroid.

[@chardelraconner2166]

fact : "after viewing this upload in it's entirety slight exosphere gravity levels bypassing exosphere Saturn atmosphere elements gradually create greater duration possiblities surface level" ©

[@naukanews]

I can't wait!

[@ALBERTUSE]

Hi from united states of albania 🇦🇱

[@whatsreal7506]

Very cool!👍👌

[@willecutlip]

“Several tons”!?

[@jimurrata6785]

Mass is not weight in microgravity....

[@willecutlip]

@@jimurrata6785 microgravity is still gravity…and a rubble pile is still a oblate spheroid…

[@1122JZ]

That's a heck of a STEM creation.

[@Rmm1722]

cool

[@ghetinknotabush8602]

It would be great to have better/faster propulsion systems. Mankind has GOT TO advance beyond chemistry-based systems.

[@AlbertaGeek]

Dude, have you never heard of ion thrusters? They've been around for quite some time, and are currently being used in over a hundred satellites.

[@rodqueen2910]

thank you !!!

[@miitoob8278]

This show brought to you by Kingsford Charcoal

[@b1232r]

Existence is amazing.

[@Lyve613official]

its protecting something like a rare metal its more of a magnetic around whatever it is

[@tonybenjamin7844]

Pretty cool indeed.

[@ronkiser5236]

That's real science

[@xrptonaire]

How tf did I end up looking up asteroid bennu

[@thehardyboys4227]

Google news or something

[@thomasballard1753]

We love science!

[@batman_2004]

This is so amazing! Wow!

[@Magicalfluidprocess]

Is this actual footage or computation ?

[@christianboddum8783]

Seriously?

[@Magicalfluidprocess]

@@christianboddum8783 what ?

[@evolicious]

@@Magicalfluidprocess are you blind?

[@zcorpalpha2462]

WHO CARES ❓🤦 It’s a PET ROCK 🪨

[@onatarabandrui8375]

It looks like a ginormous charcoal briquette.

[@18661873]

NOVA had an episode devoted to this mission.

[@shonsberge]

neat

[@stevenolan-hilton1641]

They are not looking for life, they are searching for Gold, diamonds and valuable metals

[@JamesWilson-wy7ys]

Yes and?

[@gouravraghuwanshi5422]

Naaah

[@gouravraghuwanshi5422]

They already know valueable material are in astroid belt But they are finding life

[@ReapingTheHarvest]

No they are just deceiving dumb people and collecting money.

[@h.dejong2531]

No, we're learning how asteroids work.

[@SteveBMayer]

This will make asteroid mining significantly easier!