NASA selects Nightingale crater as target for asteroid sample collection mission
Next year, NASA is set to embark on a mission to collect a small batch of dirt from an asteroid called Bennu, which is located millions of miles away from Earth. The space agency recently announced that it has chosen Nightingale, a 20-meter-wide crater on Bennu, as the target site for this endeavor.
Engineers evaluated four final candidate spots on Bennu before settling on Nightingale. Their decision was based on the potential of the crater to contain valuable organic material and water dating back to the early days of the Solar System. Dante Lauretta, the principal investigator of the asteroid sampling mission, highlighted the scientific value of Nightingale during a press conference announcing the selection.
While Nightingale appeared to be the most promising site, there are challenges involved in attempting to collect a sample from the crater. The area is surrounded by a large wall of rocks, which could pose difficulties for the spacecraft in securing the desired particles. Nevertheless, Lauretta expressed optimism that Nightingale has the potential to yield the materials and insights NASA is seeking.
The asteroid sample collection mission is a significant step towards understanding the origins of our Solar System. By retrieving and analyzing particles from Bennu, scientists hope to gain insights into the formation of planets and the delivery of organic compounds that may have contributed to the development of life on Earth.
NASA’s spacecraft, known as OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer), arrived at Bennu in 2018 and has since been studying the asteroid from a close distance. The spacecraft is equipped with a sampling arm that will make contact with the surface of Bennu and collect regolith, the loose rocky material covering the celestial body. The collected sample is expected to be returned to Earth for further examination in 2023.
The selection of Nightingale crater as the target site for sample collection marks a major milestone for the mission. While there are uncertainties and risks involved, the potential scientific discoveries and insights that may be gained from studying the asteroid’s ancient materials make it a worthwhile endeavor.
As NASA prepares for this exciting mission, scientists and space enthusiasts worldwide eagerly anticipate the arrival of the asteroid sample, which could provide valuable clues about the early history of our Solar System and the potential for life beyond Earth.