It also helped understand more about its rubble-pile-like consistency and surface terrain. NASA, in a note on its website, says that the asteroid s terrain turned out to be much rockier and more rugged than initially expected from the observations of the ground-based telescope.
The spacecraft, which embarked on its return journey on May 10, 2021, is expected to jettison the sealed capsule containing the sample and send it onto a trajectory to touch down in the Utah desert on September 24, 2023. It is carrying more than 60 grams of dust and fragments from the asteroid, the largest sample collected by NASA since the Moon rocks brought back by the Apollo missions.
Nasa's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has now started its return journey back to Earth, complete with cargo of samples and data collected by sensors produced by aer
Constant Contact Use.
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: American Astronomical Society, 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC, 20006, http://aas.org. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
NASA’s asteroid explorer has begun its long journey home with precious cargo onboard: samples of the asteroid Bennu.
An artist s illustration shows OSIRIS-REX departing 101955 Bennu.
NASA / GSFC
It has been worth the wait. After five years on mission, including more than two years spent exploring the 500-meter asteroid 101955 Bennu, NASA’s Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REX) burned its thrusters for seven minutes on Monday, May 10th. This burn set the spacecraft moving 1,000 kilometers per hour (600 mph) relative to the asteroid to start its 2.5-year journey
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Is Headed Home With a Huge Asteroid Sample By Ryan Whitwam on May 12, 2021 at 7:30 am
This site may earn affiliate commissions from the links on this page. Terms of use.
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is heading home. After a successful visit to the asteroid Bennu that lasted more than two years, the mission broke orbit today and set course for Earth. Most robotic missions are a one-way affair, but OSIRIS-REx wasn’t going to an asteroid just to look around. It grabbed a souvenir in the form of about 2 pounds of regolith, and scientists on Earth can’t wait to get their hands on it.
NASA spacecraft carrying history-making asteroid sample now heading toward Earth kaok.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kaok.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.