A robotic time capsule from the dawn of the solar system returns to Earth
In short: NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission successfully retrieved a pristine sample from the asteroid Bennu, a relic from the early solar system. By analyzing these ancient rocks and dust, scientists aim to uncover how life's essential ingredients reached our planet and better understand the potential impact risks posed by near-Earth objects.
Launched on September 8, 2016, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft embarked on a multi-year journey to rendezvous with (101955) Bennu, a carbonaceous, B-type asteroid. Bennu serves as a cosmic time capsule, having remained largely unchanged since the formation of the solar system. Because it contains carbon-rich material, researchers view it as a vital source of information regarding the organic compounds that may have seeded life on Earth billions of years ago.
The mission reached a critical milestone on October 20, 2020, when the spacecraft touched down on the asteroid's surface to collect a sample. After departing the asteroid in May 2021, the spacecraft returned to Earth, releasing a capsule that parachuted into the Utah Test and Training Range on September 24, 2023. This successful return marked the first time a United States mission had brought back material from an asteroid, providing scientists with over 120 grams of extraterrestrial matter for detailed laboratory analysis.
Beyond its scientific value, the mission provides essential data on asteroid behavior. Bennu is classified as a potentially hazardous object, with calculations suggesting a roughly 0.037 percent probability of impacting Earth between 2175 and 2199. By studying its composition and trajectory, the team is improving our ability to predict and prepare for future asteroid encounters. Following its primary success, the spacecraft has been repurposed as OSIRIS-APEX to study the asteroid 99942 Apophis, continuing its legacy of deep-space exploration.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: OSIRIS-REx | NASA GSFC
- Also: OSIRIS-REx
- Also: NASA's OSIRIS-REx Mission to Asteroid Bennu
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