NASA prepares for historic arrival of first samples collected from asteroid in space.
NASA’s Historic Mission: Bringing Home an Asteroid Sample
For the first time in its history, the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) is preparing for an extraordinary event—the arrival of the first samples of an asteroid collected in space.
NASA’s spacecraft, nicknamed Osiris-Rex, is on a mission to bring home a sample of the celestial body known as Bennu. This spacecraft, officially called the Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer, is scheduled to complete its mission on Sunday morning (Sept. 24).
“Scientists believe that the asteroid Bennu is representative of the solar system’s own oldest materials, forged in a large, giant-star supernova explosion,” said Lori Glaze, director of NASA’s Planetary Science Division, during a prelanding press call on Sept. 22.
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“And for this reason, NASA is investing in these missions devoted to small bodies to increase our understanding of how our solar system formed and how it evolved,” Glaze added.
This groundbreaking mission is managed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, in partnership with the University of Arizona and Lockheed Martin Space. Osiris-Rex also collaborated with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA) Hayabusa2 mission.
After its launch on Sept. 8, 2016, Osiris-Rex is set to touchdown at the U.S. Department of Defense’s Utah Test and Training Range on Sept. 24 at 11 a.m. (EDT). However, if any issues arise, the next opportunity for landing won’t be until September 2025.
Once the landing site is deemed safe, the spacecraft will be moved into a “clean room” to protect the sample from contamination. The sample will then be transported to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, under constant liquid nitrogen “purge” to prevent interference from earthly matter.
“One of the key scientific objectives of Osiris-Rex is to return a pristine sample, and pristine means that no foreign material hampers our investigation during sample analysis,” explained Osiris-Rex curation lead Nicole Lunning.
Dante Lauretta, the Osiris-Rex principal investigator from the University of Arizona, estimates that the spacecraft is carrying around 250 grams of asteroid material. The mission’s goal was to gather a minimum of 60 grams.
NASA will provide live coverage of the landing on NASA TV, the NASA app, and its website. A post-landing press conference is scheduled for 5 p.m. (EDT) on the same day.
If all goes according to plan, researchers will be able to open the container by Sept. 26. However, video footage and initial insights will not be available until Oct. 11.
Osiris-Rex’s return coincides with the first anniversary of the successful Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), which demonstrated a concept that could help protect Earth from potentially hazardous asteroids. DART successfully redirected the asteroid moonlet Dimorphos on Sept. 26, 2022.
Furthermore, this mission arrives just before the launch of NASA’s next asteroid-focused mission, Psyche. Psyche is set to explore the asteroid Psyche, a never-before-seen metal-rich asteroid, and is scheduled to launch on Oct. 5, 2023.
What potential benefits, both scientific and economic, could the study of asteroids like Bennu offer
Scientists are especially excited about the prospect of studying the asteroid Bennu up close. Bennu is a carbon-rich asteroid that is approximately the size of a small mountain. It is believed to be a remnant from the early formation of our solar system, which makes it a valuable source of information about the origins of life on Earth.
The Osiris-Rex spacecraft spent the past two years orbiting Bennu, carefully mapping its surface and collecting data. It then performed two touch-and-go maneuvers to grab samples of the asteroid’s regolith, or surface material. The spacecraft’s robotic arm used a blast of nitrogen gas to stir up surface material and capture it in a sample container. It is estimated that the spacecraft collected at least 60 grams of asteroid material, which will be the largest sample of an asteroid ever returned to Earth.
Once the sample is safely back on Earth, scientists will have the opportunity to study it in great detail. They hope to learn more about the composition and structure of asteroids like Bennu, as well as gain insights into the processes that led to the formation of our solar system. This information may help scientists better understand the potential for life on other planets.
The return of the asteroid sample is a significant milestone for NASA and the scientific community. It is a testament to the ingenuity and capabilities of the space agency, as well as the collaboration between international partners. The mission signals a new era of space exploration, one that focuses on studying small celestial bodies and unlocking the secrets of our cosmic origins.
In addition to its scientific value, the mission also holds potential economic benefits. Asteroid mining has long been theorized as a way to extract valuable resources from these celestial bodies, such as rare metals and water. By studying asteroids up close and analyzing their composition, scientists may be able to develop new technologies and strategies for future space exploration and resource utilization.
As the Osiris-Rex spacecraft prepares to make its historic landing, the excitement and anticipation are palpable. The successful completion of this mission will not only be a triumph for NASA and its partners, but for all of humanity. It will be a testament to our collective curiosity and ambition, and a step forward in our ongoing quest to explore the wonders of the universe.
So, as Sunday morning approaches, the world eagerly awaits the arrival of the Osiris-Rex spacecraft and the treasure it carries—a piece of an asteroid, a glimpse into the distant past, and a glimpse of the future of space exploration.
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