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NASA Shows Off Its First Asteroid Samples Delivered by Spacecraft

美國太空總署(NASA)展示太空梭運送之第一批次隕石樣本 


Source:
VOA | Science & Health
NASA Shows Off Its First Asteroid Samples Delivered by Spacecraft
October 11, 2023 3:44 PM
Associated Press
美國太空總署於於週三(編按:美國休士頓時間10/11/2023),在休士頓的強森太空中心(Johnson Space Center)對科學家及航天局領袖們展示上個月由太空梭取回至地球的隕石樣本。樣本是由美國太空總署之歐西里斯 – 瑞斯( Osiris – Rex)太空梭取回,取自距離地球六千萬英里且碳含量高之本努(Bennu)隕石。雖然主要的樣本儲藏艙尚未打開,無法確定本批次精確的樣本量,但科學家們預測樣本數大約為一杯隕石,比前幾年日本帶回地球的隕石樣本數還高。隕石樣本成分除了碳以外,隕石碎石還有含水黏土得以儲存水分。
  
CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA —  NASA on Wednesday showed off its first asteroid samples delivered last month by a spacecraft — the most ever returned to Earth.

Scientists and space agency leaders took part in the reveal at Johnson Space Center in Houston.
The ancient black dust and chunks are from the carbon-rich asteroid named Bennu, almost 60 million miles away. NASA's Osiris-Rex spacecraft collected the samples three years ago and then dropped them off sealed in a capsule during a flyby of Earth last month.

Scientists anticipated at least a cupful of rocks, far more than what Japan brought back from a pair of missions years ago. They're still not sure about the exact quantity. That's because the main sample chamber has yet to be opened, officials said.

"It's been going slow and meticulous," said the mission's lead scientist, Dante Lauretta of the University of Arizona.

Black dust and particles were scattered around the outside edge of the chamber, according to Lauretta.

"Already this is scientific treasure," he said.

Besides carbon, the asteroid rubble holds water in the form of water-bearing clay minerals, said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.
 

 

Language Notes

 

Check your comprehension!

Choose the BEST answer to each of the questions below. After you finish, highlight the parentheses to reveal the hidden answers.

1.  ( B ) Which of the following is the estimated amount of the total amount of samples of the asteroid ?
( A ) A bottle
( B ) A cup
( C ) A box
( D ) A can

2.  ( A ) How does the asteroid rubble hold water ?
( A ) Through water-bearing clay
( B ) Through pores on the surface of the rock
( C ) Through a cavity inside the rock
( D ) Through chemical reactions

3.  ( C ) In what ranking of sample size of asteroids from the largest to smallest amount brought back to earth do scientists anticipate this sample would be ranked?
( A ) 2
( B ) 5
( C ) 1
( D ) 4