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05-12-2021
This illustration provided by NASA depicts the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft at the asteroid Bennu. (Conceptual Image Lab/Goddard Space Flight Center/NASA via AP)
After five years in space, a NASA spacecraft is on its way back to Earth after collecting dust and rocks from the asteroid Bennu.
Osiris-Rex reached asteroid Bennu in 2018 and spent two years flying near and around it, before collecting rubble from the surface last fall.
The University of Arizona s Dante Lauretta, the principal scientist, estimates the spacecraft holds between a half pound and 1 pound (200 grams and 400 grams) of mostly bite-size chunks. Either way, it easily exceeds the target of at least 2 ounces (60 grams).
NASA
NASA s Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) robotic deep-space probe is returning from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu. On May 10, 2021 at 4:23 pm EDT, the spacecraft began its 2.5-year journey to Earth laden with rock and dust samples as its four high-thrust main engines fired for seven minutes to reach a relative velocity of 600 mph (1,000 km/h).
Today s departure comes after weeks of preparations as Mission Control waited for Bennu to reach the optimum position for the return flight to Earth. The imaging cameras switched off on April 9, system checks were completed, and updates were sent to OSIRIS-REx after the final calculations were made to ensure that the sample return capsule will hit the Earth s atmosphere at the right angle on September 24, 2023, so it survives re-entry and parachutes down to the recovery area at the Utah Test and Training Range in Utah s West Desert.
11 May 2021, 01:05 am
NASA s OSIRIS-REx is now returning to Earth after successfully gathering planetary rocks and dust samples from the asteroid Bennu. After nearly five years in space, the incoming spacecraft will be welcomed by the scientists at the headquarters.
NASA s OSIRIS-REx Heads Back to Earth
(Photo : NASA (@NASA) from Twitter)
In 2018, NASA s OSIRIS-REx has touched down the near-Earth asteroid Bennu. After several years of staying in the planetary body, the spacecraft is now on its way for a homecoming together with a 60-gram asteroid sample, CNET reported on Monday, May 10.
Of course, it would take some time before it reunites with the team, and NASA is expecting that by September 24, 2023, the spacecraft is now on the planet after 2.5 years of travel.
Date Time
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Spacecraft Heads for Earth with Asteroid Sample
After nearly five years in space, NASAs Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft is on its way back to Earth with an abundance of rocks and dust from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu.
On Monday, May 10, at 4:23p.m. EDT the spacecraft fired its main engines full throttle for seven minutes its most significant maneuver since it arrived at Bennu in 2018. This burn thrust the spacecraft away from the asteroid at 600 miles per hour (nearly 1,000 kilometers per hour), setting it on a 2.5-year cruise towards Earth.