Asteroid NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission landed on had a surface like a ‘pit of plastic balls’

Two years ago, NASA made history when it collected a sample from the surface of Bennu. New information about the body was shared by NASA. The agency said in an update this week that OSIRIS-REx would have sunk into Bennu if it hadn't immediately fired its thrusters.

If a person stepped onto Bennu they would feel very little resistance as if they were stepping into a pit of plastic balls.

Scientists did not think they would find that. It was expected that the asteroid's surface would be smooth and sandy. Scientists were perplexed by Bennu's reaction to OSIRIS-REx's touchdown The asteroid left a crater that was 26 feet wide. The pickup procedure made a small hole.

They found that the same amount of resistance a person on Earth would feel was encountered by the space craft. Ron Ballouz is a scientist with the OSIRIS-REx team.

Bennu's findings could help scientists better understand other asteroids. The agency could use that information to design asteroid missions. The OSIRIS-REx team member said that they are still figuring out what these bodies are.