NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is currently on its way to bringing back a valuable sample from an asteroid to Earth. This historic mission marks the first time that the United States has attempted to collect material from an asteroid. The spacecraft, traveling at an impressive speed of 35,000 kilometers per hour, is currently over 38.6 million kilometers away from our planet.
NASA officials have recently announced that OSIRIS-REx has made a significant course adjustment to bring it closer to Earth. On July 26, the spacecraft fired its engines for about 63 seconds in order to navigate a path that will bring it in proximity to our planet. This trajectory correction maneuver, which is the final adjustment required, ensures that OSIRIS-REx will be able to successfully return to Earth.
Preliminary tracking data shows that OSIRIS-REx has altered its velocity by 1.3 miles, or roughly 2 kilometers, per hour. While this may seem like a small change, it is a critical shift that enables the spacecraft to come close enough to Earth on September 24. This close approach is necessary for OSIRIS-REx to release its sample of asteroid Bennu.
In the coming weeks, two more maneuvers are scheduled to guide OSIRIS-REx to precisely enter Earth’s atmosphere. These maneuvers, set for September 10 and 17, aim to ensure that the spacecraft’s sample-return capsule will land on target at the Department of Defense’s Utah Test and Training Range near Salt Lake City.
The sample collected from the surface of asteroid Bennu in 2020 contains pristine material, including rocks and dust. This material offers scientists a remarkable opportunity to study the early stages of our solar system’s formation, which occurred approximately 4.5 billion years ago. Researchers anticipate that analyzing this ancient material will provide valuable insights into the origins of the Sun and planets.
As the OSIRIS-REx team makes progress in their mission, they have been practicing collecting soil samples. Recently, they conducted a rehearsal in the Department of Defense’s Utah Test and Training Range to simulate the retrieval of a mock sample capsule. This exercise assists the team in preparing for the critical landing of the real sample capsule.
Overall, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission is a significant undertaking that holds immense scientific potential. By bringing back samples of asteroid Bennu to Earth, researchers will gain invaluable knowledge about the formation of our solar system. As the spacecraft continues its journey, we eagerly await its arrival and the wealth of information it will provide to generations of scientists.
