Data from NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission reveals that water mixed in with clay minerals has been discovered in the asteroid Bennu.

The OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer) spacecraft made this discovery during the mission’s approach phase between mid-August and early December, about 1.4 million miles (2.2 million km) into its journey from Earth, just about 12 miles (19km) from Bennu itself.

At this point, data was was obtained using the OSIRIS-REx OVIRS (Osiris Visible and Infrared Spectrometer) and OTES (Osiris Thermal Emission Spectrometer) revealing the presence of molecules containing oxygen and hydrogen atoms bonded together, otherwise known as hydroxyls.

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Source: IGN.com A NASA Spacecraft Found Signs of Water Inside an Asteroid