NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is approaching the culmination of its seven-year mission to collect samples from the asteroid Bennu. The eagerly anticipated moment is set to take place on September 24, 2023, when the spacecraft will release a capsule containing the precious asteroid material into the Earth’s atmosphere. The samples will then make their descent and eventually land in a designated area in the Utah desert in the United States.
The entry into Earth’s atmosphere is expected to occur at 20:12 hours IST, with the capsule hurtling at an astounding speed of 44,500 kilometers per second. As it reaches such high velocity, it will be engulfed in a blazing ball of fire, transforming into an artificial shooting star visible in the skies above our planet. However, the 250 grams of asteroid material will be shielded by a heat shield, ensuring their protection throughout the journey.
Within approximately two minutes of entering the atmosphere, a drogue parachute will be deployed, enabling the capsule to safely slow down to subsonic speeds. After around six minutes, the primary parachute will take over at an altitude of approximately 1.6 kilometers above the Earth’s surface. The landing site itself is located in a military range. Once the capsule touches the ground, a fleet of four helicopters equipped with thermal sensors will be dispatched to locate and retrieve it, utilizing the heat signatures left behind from the capsule’s fiery atmospheric entry.
In advance of the sample recovery, detailed rehearsals have been conducted to ensure an efficient and swift retrieval process, minimizing the risk of any contamination from Earth. Initial processing of the capsule will take place at the military range before it is prepared for transport to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Once there, the samples will undergo meticulous documentation within a controlled clean room environment. Subsequently, they will be distributed to scientists around the world for analysis and study.
To keep the public informed and engaged, NASA will be providing live coverage of the sample recovery operations starting from 19:30 hours IST via its official website, featuring a 24×7 livestream of NASA activities. Additionally, a media briefing is scheduled for 2:30 hours IST following the recovery operations. Approximately twenty minutes after releasing the samples, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will embark on its next mission to study the Asteroid Apophis.
In conclusion, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission is on the brink of offering an extraordinary opportunity for scientists and researchers to delve into the mysteries of the universe by studying the samples collected from asteroid Bennu. The mission’s meticulous planning and rehearsal of procedures ensure that these sought-after samples will be expertly handled and analyzed, providing valuable insights into our solar system’s history and resources. With live coverage and media briefings, NASA is making sure that the public can witness this historic event, further igniting our fascination with space exploration and discovery.
