NASA’s Osiris-Rex spacecraft has successfully returned to Earth with samples from the asteroid Bennu, marking the first time the United States has retrieved material from an asteroid. According to Xinhua, the spacecraft released its sample capsule back to Earth at 10:42 am GMT, from an altitude of approximately 101,000 kilometers above the Earth’s surface. The capsule entered the Earth’s atmosphere as planned at 2:42 pm off the coast of California.
The sample capsule landed within the Utah Test and Training Range and the collected samples were transferred to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, for scientific analysis. The Osiris-Rex spacecraft was launched on September 8, 2016, and arrived at asteroid Bennu on December 3, 2018. It collected rock and dust samples from the asteroid’s surface on October 20, 2020.
Asteroid Bennu is considered a remnant of the early solar system, dating back 4.5 billion years. The samples collected by Osiris-Rex can provide valuable insights into the formation of planets, the presence of organic matter, and the existence of water, which contributed to the emergence of life on Earth.
In addition to these scientific discoveries, NASA highlights that the Osiris-Rex mission will help scientists better understand asteroids that may pose a threat to Earth and provide data for potential deflection strategies.
Following this successful mission, the Osiris-Rex spacecraft is set to embark on another endeavor. The spacecraft will travel to asteroid Apophis, a type S asteroid that is approximately 305 meters wide. This asteroid is expected to pass close to Earth in 2029, at a distance of 32,187 kilometers. The new mission, called “OSIRIS-APEX,” aims to observe the impact of the spacecraft’s journey on Apophis’ orbit, rotation rate, and surface characteristics.
These significant achievements in space exploration bring us one step closer to unraveling the mysteries of our solar system and potentially mitigating the risks associated with Near Earth Objects.
NASA is collecting samples – Xinhua reports that Osiris-Rex spacecraft (OSIRIS-Rex) The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as part of a mission to collect samples of “Asteroid” First time in the United States Returned to Earth with samples of “Asteroid Bennu” (Bennu) Sunday evening, September 24th
Reports indicate that the Osiris-Rex spacecraft released its sample capsule back to Earth at 10:42 am GMT. At an altitude of approximately 101,000 kilometers above the surface of the earth. or about 1/3 of the distance from the Earth to the Moon and the capsule entered the Earth’s atmosphere as planned at 2:42 pm off the coast of California.
The return capsule containing a sample collected from the asteroid Bennu by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is seen shortly after touching down in the desert at the Department of Defense’s Utah Test and Training Range in Dugway. NASA via REUTERS
The sample capsule touched down on the ground within the territory of the Utah Test and Training Range. The samples were transferred to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, on Monday, September 25, to begin scientific analysis.
The Osiris-Rex spacecraft was launched into space on September 8, 2016 and arrived at Asteroid Bennu on December 3, 2018 before collecting rock and dust samples from the surface of Asteroid Bennu on October 20. .2020
The return capsule containing a sample collected from the asteroid Bennu by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is seen shortly after touching down in the desert at the Department of Defense’s Utah Test and Training Range in Dugway. NASA via REUTERS
Asteroid Bennu is a remnant of the early solar system from 4.5 billion years ago, and is believed to be in good condition. The samples can provide insight into the role that similar asteroids played in the formation of planets and the appearance of organic matter and water on Earth that ultimately led to the appearance of life.
NASA also said that the information Osiris-Rex mission will help scientists better understand asteroids that could affect Earth. and provide information for future deviations in the asteroid’s orbital path.
ក្រ្រ្រ្រ្រ្រេ – The return capsule containing a sample collected from the asteroid Bennu by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is seen shortly after touching down in the desert at the Department of Defense’s Dugway Airport in Utah and Testway Utah. NASA via REUTERS
This is after the sample capsule has been released from the Earth’s surface. Osiris-Rex spaceship Will travel again to “Asteroid Apophis” (Apophis) type S (type S) Which is almost 305 meters wide and will approach the Earth in 2029 or another six years from now, at a distance of 32,187 kilometers, which is less than 1/10th of the distance between the Earth and the Moon.
This new mission is called “OSIRIS-APEX” It is expected to enter the orbit of the asteroid Apophis shortly after the asteroid moves closer to the Earth. Observe how the spacecraft’s travel affects the asteroid’s orbit, rotation rate and surface.
The return capsule containing a sample collected from the asteroid Bennu by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is seen shortly after touching down in the desert at the Department of Defense’s Utah Test and Training Range in Dugway. NASA via REUTERS
NASA collects samples – FILE PHOTO: This mosaic image of asteroid Bennu, which is made up of 12 PolyCam images collected by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft from a range of 24 km NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona/Handout via REUTERS
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