On September 24, 2023, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first US mission to successfully collect a sample from asteroid Bennu. After a remarkable seven-year journey spanning 1.2 billion miles in space, the spacecraft safely released the sample capsule, which made a triumphant landing in the Utah desert.
OSIRIS-REx Mission
- In 2016, the OSIRIS-REx mission embarked on its journey. Its full name, Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer, represents its ambitious goals.
- By 2018, it successfully entered the orbit of Bennu, marking a significant milestone in its exploration.
- The OSIRIS-REx mission embarked with the purpose of comprehending the enduring perils posed by near-Earth asteroids like Bennu colliding with our planet. Scientists assert that Bennu’s contemporary chemical and mineral composition had already materialised within a mere 10 million years of the solar system’s inception.
- In 2020, the spacecraft successfully gathered the sample and embarked on its extensive journey back to Earth in May 2021.
- The mission covered a staggering distance of 3.86 billion miles in its journey to Bennu and back, completing an extraordinary odyssey across the cosmos.
- Continuing its journey through the solar system, OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has embarked on a mission to closely examine an intriguing asteroid called Apophis.
- The mission has been rebranded as OSIRIS-APEX, which stands for Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-APophis EXplorer.
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What The Sample From Asteroid Bennu May Reveal
- The Johnson Space Center will broadcast sample details on October 11.
- The science team will perform a swift analysis of some material from the top of the canister, the results of which will be shared in October.
- The sample will undergo an extended analysis of two years inside a specifically dedicated clean room at the Johnson Space Center.
- Parts of the sample will be distributed to labs around the world, including the Canadian Space Agency and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, both partners of the OSIRIS-REx mission.
- A majority (around 70%) of the sampled material will be stored in a pristine condition. This is done in anticipation of future scientific advancements that could extract more information than what is currently possible.
- In addition to the sample of the asteroid Ryugu previously returned by Japan’s Hayabusa2 mission, the collection of rocks and soil holds the potential to unveil pivotal insights into the origins of our solar system.
- It is theorised that carbonaceous asteroids like Bennu may have impacted Earth during its initial stages, potentially delivering elements such as water.
- Bennu’s composition is believed to reflect that of the oldest materials in the solar system, which were created in vast dying stars and supernova explosions.
- NASA is funding missions focused on celestial bodies like Bennu to enhance our comprehension of the solar system’s development and evolution.
- Apart from shedding light on the solar system’s history, the sample from Bennu could also offer insights into the asteroid’s potential future paths, including a possible collision with Earth.
- Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the near-Earth asteroid population is of utmost importance, especially in identifying those that might pose a potential collision risk to our planet in the future.
- To accurately predict which asteroids may come closest to Earth and when, and to develop effective deflection methods based on their composition, it is crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of their composition and orbits.
NASA’s Other Missions To Collecte Asteroid Samples
NASA’s latest mission marked their third successful sample return from deep space. In 2004, the Genesis spacecraft attempted to deliver bits of solar wind, but unfortunately, the samples were compromised due to a parachute failure and a rough landing. However, in 2006, the Stardust spacecraft triumphantly accomplished its goal of delivering comet dust.
NASA has completed three missions to collect samples from far out in space. Back in 2004, the Genesis spacecraft tried to bring back pieces of solar wind. But, the samples got damaged when the parachute didn’t work and the landing was too rough. Six years later, in 2010, the Stardust spacecraft managed to bring back some dust from a comet.
NASA’s ambitions to retrieve samples from Mars have hit a roadblock following a scathing assessment of the project’s expenses and intricacies by an independent review board. Over the past two years, the Martian rover Perseverance diligently gathered core samples, with the ultimate goal of transporting them back to Earth. However, these plans now face uncertainty.
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All About Asteroid Bennu
- Asteroid Bennu is named after an ancient Egyptian bird symbolising the Sun, creation, and rebirth.
NASA predicts Bennu may hit Earth. - Bennu is bigger than the Empire State Building, measuring 510 metres wide.
- If it hits Earth, it could generate energy 24 times more potent than the strongest nuclear weapon.
- The most probable impact date is the afternoon of September 24, 2182.
- The chances of impact, as per NASA, are 1 in 1,750 by 2300, or a 0.05% probability.
- Despite the low probability, Bennu is classified as a “potentially hazardous asteroid.” It could approach Earth as close as 4.65 million miles.
- Bennu’s formation dates back to the solar system’s early era – over 4.5 billion years ago.