OSIRIS-REx Completes Sample Collection From Asteroid Bennu
OSIRIS-REx Samples Asteroid Bennu
“NASA’s Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft unfurled its robotic arm Tuesday, and in a first for the agency, briefly touched an asteroid to collect dust and pebbles from the surface for delivery to Earth in 2023. This well-preserved, ancient asteroid, known as Bennu, is currently more than 200 million miles (321 million kilometers) from Earth. Bennu offers scientists a window into the early solar system as it was first taking shape billions of years ago and flinging ingredients that could have helped seed life on Earth. If Tuesday’s sample collection event, known as “Touch-And-Go” (TAG), provided enough of a sample, mission teams will command the spacecraft to begin stowing the precious primordial cargo to begin its journey back to Earth in March 2021. Otherwise, they will prepare for another attempt in January.”
Well, I definitely touched down on Bennu!
Preliminary data show the sampling head touched Bennu’s surface for approximately 6 seconds, within 3 feet (1 meter) of the targeted location. #ToBennuAndBack
More details: https://t.co/4rBrB27FEZ pic.twitter.com/LjDQICmxJM
— NASA's OSIRIS-REx (@OSIRISREx) October 21, 2020
Well, we shall see. So far, everything looks good. But don’t confuse an animation about what was expected to happen for being the real thing. I am looking forward to confirmation that they got their required 60g sample, and hope for much more, like it could be a kg or more! That would be absolutely awesome.
And don’t forget what happened to the Geneses return sample.
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
I don’t know what to say, I remember a time when such a mission was only in the minds of people. But some were quite smart to make it a reality.
I’m still in *AWE* of such missions: the incredible teams who design them and execute them. Well done!!
But for another, sadder reason: I’m almost as equally in awe of how news and space news websites had to disable comments on the live video feeds for Osiris-Rex. Why? Because of the usual, imbecilic ramblings of a busy few who are ranting about how ‘outer space isn’t even real – you are being lied to sheeple!’ This is 2020. This is the 21st Century. What flipping century do those trolling knuckle-draggers think it is?! 🙁
OK. Yes, that happened.
But I saw mention of this wonderful project on many national news outlets, all reporting with a sense of reportorial wonder; and in every case, homage to NASA with a kind of “who else could have done this?” tone of voice.
Nowhere was mention made of the stunning Hayabusa project, alas, from 2010, surely a Japanese tour de force; nor NASA’s own Genesis’ crash landing in 2004.
We are all standing on shoulders.
NOVA discussed Hayabusa. See below.
Stunning! I’ve been following this mission from the beginning. I would like to know more about how the hell one actually orbits a body with the mass of ISS (as I’ve been told). Anyone seen a deeper discussion regarding the complexities of orbiting in an ultralow gravity environment?
Regardless: we have a spacecraft in size comparable to a minivan – certainly I appreciate these real world comparisons – orbiting a tiny rocky world.
What a great time to be alive!
Slowly. Very slowly.
I walked right into that one, Bob:-)
NOVA last night on PBS was about this mission and they talked some about the orbiting challenge. They noted that the orbit prediction is a major challenge since the gravity is not as dominant a force like with planets…solar wind, light pressure, etc play a larger role.
The program was like their New Horizons show. The last ten or so minutes included the actual touchdown event. As usual, a well done production.