NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has reached a significant milestone in its mission by opening its asteroid-sample canister for the first time in more than seven years. On September 26, scientists at NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston lifted the canister’s outer lid just two days after the spacecraft’s return capsule landed in the desert of northern Utah.
The lid was lifted with much anticipation, and scientists gasped as they beheld what was inside. According to NASA’s Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) division, “dark powder and sand-sized particles” greeted them upon opening the canister. This powder originally resided on the surface of Bennu, the asteroid that OSIRIS-REx had been studying.
The OSIRIS-REx mission began in September 2016 when the spacecraft launched towards Bennu, a 1,650-foot-wide asteroid. It arrived at its destination in December 2018 and successfully collected a sample from the space rock using its Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM) in October 2020.
The asteroid material, contained within the return capsule, landed in Utah on September 24. From there, it was transported to Houston via plane on September 25. At Johnson Space Center, the sample will be stored and curated by the team overseeing its distribution to scientists worldwide.
The OSIRIS-REx mission aims to provide valuable insights into the formation and early evolution of the solar system. Additionally, scientists hope to understand the role that carbon-rich asteroids like Bennu played in delivering the building blocks of life to Earth. Researchers will analyze the sample for decades to come, extracting information that could reshape our understanding of the universe.
However, the main asteroid sample has not yet been accessed. Disassembling the TAGSAM apparatus to reach the sample is a meticulous task that requires precision and time. The process aims to avoid any contact between delicate hardware and the precious asteroid material.
Although the analysis of the sample is yet to begin, NASA has announced plans to reveal the Bennu sample on October 11 at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT). The unveiling will take place during a live webcast event that can be watched on Space.com. This exciting development will allow the public to witness the remarkable findings brought back from Bennu by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft.
The OSIRIS-REx mission marks an extraordinary achievement for NASA and continues to push the boundaries of space exploration. With each new discovery, our knowledge of the universe expands, paving the way for future missions and deeper insights into the mysteries of our existence.