An area capsule carrying a pattern of rocky materials faraway from the floor of an asteroid three years in the past is predicted to make a parachute touchdown within the Utah desert on Sunday.
If profitable, the OSIRIS-REx mission, a joint effort between NASA and scientists on the University of Arizona, would mark the third asteroid pattern, and by far the biggest, ever returned to Earth for evaluation.
OSIRIS-REx collected its samples from Bennu, a carbon-rich asteroid, earlier than embarking on a 1.9-billion-km (1.2-billion-mile) journey again to Earth in May 2021.
What is the OSIRIS-REx?
The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) is an unmanned spacecraft from NASA that was despatched to accumulate samples from Bennu.
The spacecraft was outfitted with cameras to seize pictures that have been important to accumulating samples from the asteroid through the mission. It was additionally outfitted with supplies to develop 3D maps of Bennu, measure its temperature, map its mineral and chemical composition, and consider it in X-rays and infrared mild.
The robotic arm connected to the spacecraft collected unfastened rocks and dust from the asteroid’s floor, which have been then sealed contained in the pattern return capsule.
This capsule separated from the spacecraft and started its fiery plunge by Earth’s ambiance.
What can we know concerning the spacecraft’s journey?
The OSIRIS-REx launched from Florida on September 8, 2016.
In September 2017, the spacecraft used the assistance of the Earth’s gravity to propel itself on its lengthy journey in direction of Bennu, reaching the asteroid on December 3, 2018.
It made contact with the floor of the asteroid for about 5 seconds on October 20, 2020. The pattern assortment was revamped three makes an attempt by OSIRIS-REx.
In May 2021, the spacecraft started its journey again to Earth.
Where and when will the pattern land on Earth?
The pattern is predicted to return to Earth on Sunday at 14:55 GMT.
The capsule containing the pattern will parachute down to the Utah Test and Training Range in Utah’s West Desert, the place scientists can be ready to retrieve it.
Are the asteroid samples harmful?
The pattern is not going to include contaminants comparable to viruses or micro organism, Harold Connolly, who is predicated at Rowan University and is the OSIRIS-REx mission pattern scientist and a co-investigator, advised Al Jazeera.
He made a comparability with materials taken from Apollo 11 lunar samples, which prompted comparable issues on the time. After utilizing animals to take a look at that materials, it was declared protected.
No microbial growths have been discovered and NASA determined it was protected sufficient to cease additional animal testing or quarantining astronauts and lab technicians working with lunar samples after the Apollo 14 mission in 1971.
What can we know about Bennu?
Bennu, beforehand referred to as 1999 RQ36, was found in 1999 and labeled as a “near-Earth object” as a result of it passes comparatively shut to our planet each six years. It is a small asteroid, rather less than 500 metres in depth and is greater than 4.5 billion years previous.
Over time, the asteroid has drifted nearer to Earth, carefully approaching it each six years. Scientists estimate that one of these shut approaches has a small probability of impacting the Earth on September 24, 2182.
Why was OSIRIS-REx despatched to Bennu?
The mission was launched in order that scientists may learn the way to higher predict the long-term dangers of near-Earth asteroids comparable to Bennu hitting our planet.
Scientists additionally consider that inside 10 million years of the photo voltaic system’s formation, Bennu’s present-day chemical and mineral composition was already fashioned.
Telescopes have proven that the asteroid incorporates carbon-rich natural materials, which can have performed a job in delivering life-forming compounds to Earth. Part of OSIRIS-REx’s mission was to study extra about these compounds.
Scientists have additionally hoped to decide if there are any indicators of water on the asteroid, and to examine whether or not hydrogen and oxygen might be extracted from the water on asteroids to gasoline rockets in area.
With simply days left earlier than the #OSIRISREx pattern return, let’s do a fast refresher on @NASA‘s first-ever asteroid pattern return mission! 🧵 pic.twitter.com/J1HEWzJqaG
— NASA Goddard (@NASAGoddard) September 21, 2023
What will occur to the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft after the mission?
The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft can be renamed to OSIRIS-APEX (OSIRIS-APophis Explorer) and be despatched to examine one other near-Earth asteroid, Apophis, when it comes shut to the Earth in 2029.
“It’s a perfectly viable spacecraft that can do more science, and NASA was wise to repurpose it and get new science out of it by going to Apophis,” mentioned Connolly.
How can I comply with the touchdown?
You can watch the stay protection of the OSIRIS-REx capsule touchdown on Sunday utilizing the NASA Live hyperlink.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/24/what-to-know-about-the-landing-of-nasas-first-asteroid-sample-on-sunday?traffic_source=rss
