NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission, which set out in 2016 to collect samples from the asteroid Bennu, is now nearing its completion. The spacecraft was recently spotted for the first time since its departure as it made its way back to Earth.
Bennu is a rubble-pile asteroid that scientists believe broke off from a larger asteroid between 700 million and 2 billion years ago, according to NASA. It orbits about 105 million miles from the Sun and completes its orbit every 1.2 years. When OSIRIS-REx reached Bennu, the asteroid was approximately 200 million miles away.
The mission spent nearly three years observing and studying Bennu, gathering crucial information about its spin, shape, and composition. The rocky surface of Bennu holds valuable insights into the formation of the solar system. However, observations alone are limited, which prompted the sample return project.
In addition to the exciting progress, OSIRIS-REx recently had its course adjusted to ensure a successful return to Earth. Mission planners made slight modifications to the spacecraft’s velocity, precisely aiming it towards the sample drop-off site on our planet. This adjustment of approximately 0.5 miles per hour was crucial to prevent OSIRIS-REx from missing its target.
The spacecraft collected the Bennu sample in 2020 and departed from the asteroid in April 2021. On September 16, the European Space Agency’s Optical Ground Station (OGS) telescope captured an image of the spacecraft. Located on the island of Tenerife, the ESA telescope was originally designed to detect space debris but now contributes to astronomical surveys and tracking near-Earth asteroids.
Bennu itself is classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid (PHA) due to its chance of colliding with Earth in 161 years. However, experts assure us that the risk remains exceedingly low. The real impact of Bennu will be in the form of the OSIRIS-REx samples, which hold incredible potential in unraveling the mysteries of the universe’s formation.
This mission marks an important milestone for NASA and the scientific community. The samples collected from Bennu have the potential to provide valuable insights into the origins of life and the formation of our solar system. As OSIRIS-REx continues its journey back to Earth, anticipation grows for the scientific discoveries that await us.