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NASA's OSIRIS-REx Reveals Bennu's Rocky Surface Surprises

3/23/2026

Summary

Story summary

NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission found Bennu's surface dominated by large boulders, contradicting the idea of smooth areas.
This contradicted earlier thermal readings that suggested surface material was loose.
After returning samples to Earth, scientists discovered rocks with internal cracks that affect heat retention.
Ron Ballouz of Johns Hopkins University says the work transforms the understanding of asteroid structures based on thermal properties, with the full study published in Nature Communications.

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Story summary

NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission found Bennu's surface dominated by large boulders, contradicting the idea of smooth areas.
This contradicted earlier thermal readings that suggested surface material was loose.
After returning samples to Earth, scientists discovered rocks with internal cracks that affect heat retention.
Ron Ballouz of Johns Hopkins University says the work transforms the understanding of asteroid structures based on thermal properties, with the full study published in Nature Communications.