NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft successfully collected a sample from the asteroid Bennu and is now on its way back to Earth. The spacecraft spent over two years orbiting and studying the asteroid before descending to its surface to collect the sample. The mission is aimed at better understanding the formation of the solar system and the origin of life on Earth. The sample is expected to contain valuable material that could provide insights into the early solar system and potentially even organic molecules [BBC News].
OSIRIS-REx used a robotic arm called the Touch-And-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM) to collect the sample. It briefly made contact with the asteroid's surface and fired a burst of nitrogen gas to stir up and collect the material. The spacecraft successfully completed its mission and is now on a trajectory back to Earth [USA Today].
NASA invited the public to watch the live stream of the sample collection event. The livestream included commentary from experts and provided real-time footage of the spacecraft's descent to Bennu's surface. It was an exciting and nerve-wracking event for the mission team, as collecting the sample was a delicate and complex operation [USA Today].
The return journey will take approximately 2.5 years, with OSIRIS-REx expected to reach Earth in 2025. Once the spacecraft arrives, it will release a sample return capsule containing the asteroid material. The capsule will land in the Utah Test and Training Range, where it will be recovered by NASA and transported to the Johnson Space Center in Houston for analysis [Gizmodo].
The sample collected from Bennu will provide scientists with a wealth of information about asteroids, the formation of the solar system, and potentially even the origins of life. By studying the material up close in laboratories on Earth, researchers will be able to conduct detailed analyses and experiments that are not possible in space. This mission is a significant milestone in NASA's ongoing exploration of our solar system [Mercury News].
NASA also live-streamed the collection event through the OSIRIS-REx Sample Return Telescope Network. This network consists of a global network of telescopes that tracked the spacecraft's journey and collected additional data during the asteroid encounter. The livestream included live views from the telescopes, providing a different perspective on the mission and allowing viewers to see the asteroid and the spacecraft in real-time [Space.com].
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