Could an asteroid sample hold the secrets to our very existence?
In short: NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission is hunting for organic materials from the early solar system. By visiting the asteroid Bennu, scientists hope to uncover how the building blocks of life arrived on Earth, potentially revolutionizing our understanding of planet formation and the origins of life itself.
The OSIRIS-REx mission, formally known as the Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer, was designed to rendezvous with and study the asteroid Bennu. This asteroid is a remnant of the solar system's formation from over 4.5 billion years ago. Because asteroids may have delivered water and organic molecules to early Earth, obtaining an uncontaminated sample is vital. Such a sample allows for precise laboratory analyses that far exceed the capabilities of remote spacecraft instruments or the study of meteorites. The spacecraft was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. It was carried into orbit by a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. This mission is led by principal investigator Dante Lauretta from the University of Arizona.
The mission's technical complexity was highlighted by its daring maneuvers. In July 2020, the spacecraft used an 11-foot arm to perform a five-second maneuver to stir up surface material, aiming to collect at least 60 grams of rocks and dust. This mission represents the first U.S. mission to return asteroid samples to Earth and marks the largest sample return from space since the Apollo era. The spacecraft's solar arrays were deployed shortly after separation from the rocket. This mission is managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland.
Beyond its biological implications, the mission serves a critical safety function. By studying Bennu, scientists gain insights into asteroids that could impact Earth. Bennu is presently deemed a potentially dangerous body, carrying a 1-in-2,700 risk of hitting Earth from 2175 through 2199. The data collected by instruments like the Goddard-built OVIRS helps refine our understanding of these celestial threats.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: A 'Go' To Build OSIRIS-REx on This Week @NASA
- Also: OSIRIS-REx | NASA GSFC
- Also: NASA — NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Speeds Toward Asteroid Rendezvous - NASA
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