NASA Historic Asteroid Sample Return Mission: An asteroid piece stored in a NASA spaceship for 2.5 years is coming back to Earth.
This is a big deal for NASA, their first asteroid mission. The rocks and dirt from asteroid Ryugu, along with a sample brought back by Hayabusa2, can provide insights into our solar system’s formation.
OSIRIS-REx won’t land traditionally. It will shed debris before moving to another asteroid.
Preparations are underway for sampling asteroid Bennu. Teams are practicing. The Utah desert landing is scheduled for September 24th.
Experts say OSIRIS-REx returned 8.36 ounces of material from Bennu.
“We’re close to bringing solar system history to Earth, and this drop test proves our readiness,” said Nicola Fox, NASA’s Science Mission Directorate Associate Administrator. Samples from asteroid Bennu will teach us about our solar system’s origins and the beginnings of life.
When a spaceship drops a capsule with a rare asteroid sample to a specific landing spot, it’s unique. This achievement is the result of years of hard work by many people, leading to the arrival of the Bennu sample on Earth.
During spring and summer, planning and practice were done to find the sample capsule. During these practices, reentry outcomes were assessed, including positive and negative results.
On Sept 24, at 10 a.m. ET, NASA will live stream the return. At 10:42 a.m. ET, the capsule will enter Earth’s atmosphere at a speed of approximately 27,650 mph (44,498 km/h).
Four hours prior to landing, the team will decide on releasing the capsule. This choice depends on factors like spacecraft path, landing zone safety, and capsule’s return angle, temperature handling, and landing capability. When OSIRIS-REx is around 63,000 miles (102,000 kilometers) from Earth and approaching a target area of 250 square miles (647.5 square kilometers), the capsule will be deployed. It’s like shooting a basketball and hitting the mark.
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After release, OSIRIS-REx will change course to reach asteroid Apophis in 2029.
When the ship nears Earth’s atmosphere, it will heat up, but the heat shield will shield it. The capsule will slow down with parachutes, reaching a speed of 11 mph (17.7 km/h). Teams will retrieve the capsule when safe.
After re-entry, the capsule will land 13 minutes later. A helicopter will transport the sample to a cleanroom at Utah Test Range. On Sep 25, a C-17 plane will transport the sample case to NASA in Houston. NASA broadcast on Oct 11 to reveal sample details.
NASA and Lockheed Martin Space teams have practiced extensively for all possible outcomes in anticipation of this crucial event. One task was to drop and retrieve a capsule for shipping.
The team handled tough situations from the command center, preparing for contingencies like spacecraft reboots, safe mode recovery, and transferring communications during network disruptions.
Even with planning, some things are uncertain. If the capsule opens, the sample may be ruined. If no landing, sample stays on board. The spacecraft may return to Earth for another release attempt in Utah in 2025.
The Johnson Space Center studies extraterrestrial materials, including lunar samples from Apollo missions. Years of work have gone into creating a facility at Johnson for the Bennu sample. The cleanroom is vital for contamination prevention as scientists analyze soil and rocks for the next two years. Sample material may be tiny, needing special tools and precautions for handling.
The sample offers insights into our solar system’s formation, history, and the role of asteroids in habitable planets. Scientists think asteroids like Bennu helped form Earth, giving us important elements like water.
The sample will be distributed to labs worldwide, including partners from the Canadian Space Agency and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency. Around 70% of the sample will be saved for future generations with access to advanced technology.
“The asteroids in our solar system are remnants from its early stage,” Lauretta said. We study ancient materials. I call them the grandrocks, symbolizing our roots. This is a gift.An asteroid piece in a NASA spaceship is returning to Earth after 2.5 years.
This is a big deal for NASA, their first asteroid mission. The rocks and dirt from asteroid Ryugu, along with a sample brought back by Hayabusa2, can provide insights into our solar system’s formation.
OSIRIS-REx won’t land normally. It drops rocks and soil before exploring another asteroid.
Preparations continue for sampling asteroid Bennu. The Utah desert landing is scheduled for Sept. 24.
Experts say OSIRIS-REx returned 8.36 ounces from Bennu.
“We’re close to bringing solar system history to Earth, and this drop test shows our readiness,” said Nicola Fox, NASA’s Science Mission Directorate Associate Administrator. Samples from asteroid Bennu will inform us about our solar system’s origins and the potential beginnings of life on Earth.
When a spaceship drops a capsule with a rare asteroid sample to safely deliver it, it’s unique. This achievement is the result of years of hard work by many people, leading to the arrival of the Bennu sample on Earth.
In spring and summer, planning and practice were done to find the sample capsule. During these practices, reentry outcomes were assessed, including positive and negative ones.
On Sept 24, at 10 a.m. ET, NASA will live stream the return. At 10:42 a.m. ET, the capsule will enter Earth’s atmosphere at a speed of around 27,650 mph (44,498 km/h).
The team will decide on capsule release four hours before landing. This choice depends on factors such as spacecraft path, landing zone safety, capsule’s return angle and temperature handling, and landing capability. When OSIRIS-REx is around 63,000 miles (102,000 kilometers) from Earth and approaching a target area of 250 square miles (647.5 square kilometers), the capsule will be deployed. It’s like shooting a basketball and hitting the target.
After release, OSIRIS-REx will change course to reach asteroid Apophis in 2029.
When the ship nears Earth’s atmosphere, it will heat up, but the shield will protect it. The capsule will slow down with parachutes, reaching a speed of 11 mph (17.7 km/h). Teams will retrieve the capsule when safe.
After re-entry, the capsule will land 13 minutes later. A helicopter will transport the sample to a cleanroom at Utah Test Range. On Sep 25, a C-17 plane will transport the sample case to NASA in Houston. NASA to reveal sample details during Oct 11 broadcast.
NASA and Lockheed Martin Space teams have practiced extensively for all possible outcomes in anticipation of this crucial event. One task was to drop a sample capsule from a plane, retrieve it, and prepare it for shipping.
The team handled tough situations from the command center, preparing for contingencies like spacecraft reboots, safe mode recovery, and transferring communications during network disruptions.
Even with planning, some things are uncertain. If the capsule opens accidentally, the sample may be ruined. If no landing, sample remains on board. The spacecraft may return to Earth for another release attempt in Utah in 2025.
The Johnson Space Center studies extraterrestrial materials, including lunar samples from Apollo missions. Years of work have been put into creating a facility at Johnson for the Bennu sample. The cleanroom is vital for contamination prevention as scientists analyze soil and rocks for the next two years. Sample material may be tiny, needing special tools and precautions for handling.
The sample provides insights into our solar system’s formation, history, and the role of asteroids in developing habitable planets. Scientists think asteroids like Bennu helped form Earth, giving us vital elements like water.
The sample will be distributed to labs worldwide, including partners from the Canadian Space Agency and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency. Around 70% of the sample will be saved for future generations with access to advanced technology for analysis.
“The asteroids in our solar system are remnants from its early stage,” Lauretta said. We study ancient materials before Earth. I call them the grandrocks, symbolizing our origins. This is a gift.
Our Reader’s Queries
Which mission is returning samples from an asteroid?
Launched in September 2016, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission saw its capsule touch down in the Utah desert seven years later. The samples gathered from an asteroid are now ready for NASA scientists to analyze and share their findings from the initial tests.
What asteroid did NASA get a sample of?
Analysis of the ancient asteroid Bennu’s 4.5-billion-year-old sample, retrieved from space by NASA and brought to Earth, reveals a significant presence of carbon and water. These findings suggest the potential existence of essential components for lifes origins within the asteroid.
What was the first US mission to return asteroid samples 2016?
The OSIRIS-REx mission marked the initial U.S. effort to gather material from an asteroid. It completed its return to Earth on September 24, 2023, delivering samples from asteroid Bennu. Rather than landing, the spacecraft proceeded to its next venture, OSIRIS-APEX, dedicated to probing asteroid Apophis.
What NASA mission is currently on its way back to Earth with a sample of a near Earth asteroid?
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission’s sample return capsule is spotted right after landing in the desert on Sunday, September 24, 2023, at the Department of Defense’s Utah Test and Training Range. The sample, gathered from the asteroid Bennu in October 2020 by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, is a significant milestone in space exploration.