NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is bringing back samples of the asteroid Bennu, which will arrive on Earth on 24 September. The spacecraft, launched in 2016, entered orbit around Bennu in 2018. Bennu was chosen as a target because of its proximity to Earth, with a distance of about 225 million kilometers at the time of launch. Bennu is considered a near-Earth object (NEO) due to its regular close approaches. Although the chances of a collision with Earth are small, studying Bennu is crucial to understand how to protect our planet from such asteroids. Additionally, Bennu is one of the most primitive asteroids known, providing valuable insights into the early solar system.
Asteroids like Bennu are remnants from the formation of the solar system and can help scientists understand how planets formed and evolved. Bennu contains large concentrations of carbon, the main building block for organic molecules, which are crucial for life as we know it. By studying the organic molecules in the samples, scientists hope to gain insights into the early solar system and the potential for life on other planets.
Japan’s Hayabusa 2 spacecraft has already returned similar samples from the asteroid Ryugu. Comparing the samples from Bennu and Ryugu will contribute to our understanding of the solar system’s history and the diversity of materials present billions of years ago.
The OSIRIS-REx team will make a decision on 24 September whether it is safe to release the sample capsule. If approved, the capsule will be sent hurtling towards Earth from a distance of about 102,000 kilometers. It will travel for approximately four hours before entering the atmosphere at a speed of about 44,000 kilometers per hour. The capsule will be protected and slowed down by a heat shield and parachutes until it lands in the Utah desert.
Once the capsule is released, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will continue its mission towards the asteroid Apophis. Meanwhile, the sample will be immediately transported to Houston for analysis. This milestone event has the scientists excited and eagerly awaiting the valuable samples from Bennu.
