Historic NASA Asteroid Mission: Capsule Touches Down With Rock Sample From Bennu

By Edwin F -

September 25, 2023 

A NASA spacecraft carrying a sample of rock and dust from asteroid Bennu touched down safely in the Utah desert on Sunday, marking the end of a historic mission to study one of the most primitive objects in our solar system. The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, which launched from Earth in 2016, arrived at Bennu in 2018 and spent two years orbiting and studying the asteroid. In October 2020, OSIRIS-REx extended a robotic arm and touched Bennu's surface for five seconds, collecting a sample of material.

The spacecraft then began a two-year journey back to Earth. On Sunday, September 25, 2023, OSIRIS-REx released a capsule containing the Bennu sample, which parachuted safely to the ground in the Utah Test and Training Range.The Bennu sample is the largest and most pristine asteroid sample ever returned to Earth. It will be studied by scientists around the world to learn more about the early history of our solar system and the potential for asteroids to harbor organic molecules or even life. OSIRIS-REx mission is a major milestone in space exploration and a testament to the ingenuity and dedication of NASA scientists and engineers. The following is a more detailed account of the mission and the science that it is expected to produce:



The OSIRIS-REx mission was designed to study asteroid Bennu and collect a sample of its surface material. Bennu is a near-Earth asteroid that is about 492 meters (1,614 feet) in diameter. It is thought to be a primitive asteroid, which means that it has not changed much since it formed billions of years ago. OSIRIS-REx launched from Earth in September 2016 and arrived at Bennu in December 2018. The spacecraft spent two years orbiting and studying Bennu. During this time, OSIRIS-REx mapped Bennu's surface, measured its temperature and gravity, and studied its composition.

In October 2020, OSIRIS-REx extended a robotic arm and touched Bennu's surface for five seconds, collecting a sample of material. The spacecraft then began a two-year journey back to Earth. On September 25, 2023, OSIRIS-REx released a capsule containing the Bennu sample, which parachuted safely to the ground in the Utah Test and Training Range.



Scientific Goals

The OSIRIS-REx mission has two main scientific goals:

  1. To study asteroid Bennu and learn more about its composition, formation, and evolution.
  2. To collect a sample of Bennu's surface material and return it to Earth for study.

Scientists are particularly interested in Bennu because it is a primitive asteroid. Primitive asteroids are thought to be the building blocks of the planets and moons in our solar system. By studying Bennu, scientists can learn more about the early history of our solar system and the formation of planets and moons.

The Bennu sample is also of great interest to scientists. It is the largest and most pristine asteroid sample ever returned to Earth. By studying the sample, scientists can learn more about the composition of asteroids and the potential for asteroids to harbor organic molecules or even life.

The OSIRIS-REx mission is a major milestone in space exploration. It is the first mission to return a sample of material from a primitive asteroid. The Bennu sample is expected to revolutionize our understanding of the early history of our solar system and the formation of planets and moons. The sample is also expected to shed light on the potential for asteroids to harbor organic molecules or even life. If organic molecules are found in the sample, it would suggest that asteroids could have played a role in the delivery of life to Earth. The OSIRIS-REx mission is a testament to the ingenuity and dedication of NASA scientists and engineers. It is a complex and ambitious mission that has the potential to change our understanding of the universe.

The OSIRIS-REx mission is a historic achievement that is sure to revolutionize our understanding of asteroids and the early history of our solar system. The Bennu sample is the most pristine asteroid sample ever returned to Earth, and it is expected to provide scientists with a wealth of new information. The OSIRIS-REx mission is also a testament to the ingenuity and dedication of NASA scientists and engineers. It is a complex and ambitious mission that has the potential to change our understanding of the universe.

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