Asteroid sample returned safely to Earth


A black container with an orange disk sits on the sand in the desert.
The asteroid sample return mission had a smooth descent and landing in the Utah desert on September 24, 2023. Image via NASA HQ Photo.

The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft dropped off an asteroid sample from Bennu on September 24, 2023. NASA aired live footage of the descent as it impacted with the Utah desert three minutes ahead of schedule. You can watch a replay of the coverage here. Teams on the ground quickly reached the landing site and determined that it was safe to transport the sample to a clean room in Utah. It will soon make a journey to Johnson Space Center in Houston, where a portion of it will be divided up and sent to scientists around the world for study. The spacecraft, now under the name OSIRIS-APEX, sped off toward its next mission: a rendezvous with asteroid Apophis.

OSIRIS-REx’s journey to Bennu and back

OSIRIS-REx arrived at Bennu in 2018. In 2020, it touched down on the asteroid and scooped up material from the surface. Then, in 2021, the spacecraft left Bennu on its return mission to Earth.

When OSIRIS-REx dropped off the asteroid sample early Sunday morning, the capsule spiraled downward for hours before hitting Earth’s atmosphere. When it first hit the atmosphere, it was speeding at about 27,650 mph (44,500 kph). A heat shield protected the sample inside as the capsule temporarily became a superheated ball of fire.

Eventually, a series of parachutes deployed to slow the capsule further. By the time the capsule impacted the Utah desert, it slowed down to a speed of 11 mph (18 kph).

Asteroid sample: Graphic showing capsule landing path through atmospher with 6 important milestones marked.
View larger. | This was the path of the asteroid sample after OSIRIS-REx dropped it off on Sunday, September 24, 2023. The capsule reentered Earth’s atmosphere just south of San Francisco. Then the sample return flew over central California and Nevada as it headed for its landing site in the Utah desert, southwest of Salt Lake City. Image via NASA.

More about the asteroid sample from Bennu

NASA said the rocky asteroid sample from Bennu is an estimated 8.8 ounces, or 250 grams. It’s NASA’s first asteroid sample and the largest ever collected in space. Watch the video below for more.


Watch a video detailing OSIRIS-REx’s delivery of an asteroid sample to Earth. The sample from asteroid Bennu landed on Earth on September 24, 2023.

Continuing on to Apophis

After OSIRIS-REx fired its thrusters to keep it from colliding with Earth, it continued on its way, eventually headed for Apophis. Apophis is an asteroid famous for how close it will come to Earth. On Friday, April 13, 2029, the 1,100-foot (340-meter) space rock will come within 19,662 miles (31,643 km) of Earth’s surface. That’s closer than many Earth-orbiting satellites. As the asteroid encounters Earth’s gravitational field, one result could be asteroid-quakes on Apophis. This passage will also change the orbit of Apophis slightly. Some observers will even be able to see Apophis as it passes.

OSIRIS-APEX, now renamed for its new target of Apophis, will reach the asteroid in 2029. This extended mission will have OSIRIS-APEX orbiting and studying Apophis for a year and a half. The spacecraft will venture close enough to the asteroid to stir up loose material.

Diagram of Earth, Apophis and OSIRIS orbits with all 3 meeting close together, labeled April 2029.
In April 2029, when asteroid Apophis makes its closest approach to Earth, the spacecraft OSIRIS-APEX will be there to observe. Image via NASA.

Bottom line: The spacecraft OSIRIS-REx dropped off an asteroid sample from Bennu on September 24, 2023, before continuing on a mission to Apophis as OSIRIS-APEX.

Via NASA

The post Asteroid sample returned safely to Earth first appeared on EarthSky.



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A black container with an orange disk sits on the sand in the desert.
The asteroid sample return mission had a smooth descent and landing in the Utah desert on September 24, 2023. Image via NASA HQ Photo.

The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft dropped off an asteroid sample from Bennu on September 24, 2023. NASA aired live footage of the descent as it impacted with the Utah desert three minutes ahead of schedule. You can watch a replay of the coverage here. Teams on the ground quickly reached the landing site and determined that it was safe to transport the sample to a clean room in Utah. It will soon make a journey to Johnson Space Center in Houston, where a portion of it will be divided up and sent to scientists around the world for study. The spacecraft, now under the name OSIRIS-APEX, sped off toward its next mission: a rendezvous with asteroid Apophis.

OSIRIS-REx’s journey to Bennu and back

OSIRIS-REx arrived at Bennu in 2018. In 2020, it touched down on the asteroid and scooped up material from the surface. Then, in 2021, the spacecraft left Bennu on its return mission to Earth.

When OSIRIS-REx dropped off the asteroid sample early Sunday morning, the capsule spiraled downward for hours before hitting Earth’s atmosphere. When it first hit the atmosphere, it was speeding at about 27,650 mph (44,500 kph). A heat shield protected the sample inside as the capsule temporarily became a superheated ball of fire.

Eventually, a series of parachutes deployed to slow the capsule further. By the time the capsule impacted the Utah desert, it slowed down to a speed of 11 mph (18 kph).

Asteroid sample: Graphic showing capsule landing path through atmospher with 6 important milestones marked.
View larger. | This was the path of the asteroid sample after OSIRIS-REx dropped it off on Sunday, September 24, 2023. The capsule reentered Earth’s atmosphere just south of San Francisco. Then the sample return flew over central California and Nevada as it headed for its landing site in the Utah desert, southwest of Salt Lake City. Image via NASA.

More about the asteroid sample from Bennu

NASA said the rocky asteroid sample from Bennu is an estimated 8.8 ounces, or 250 grams. It’s NASA’s first asteroid sample and the largest ever collected in space. Watch the video below for more.


Watch a video detailing OSIRIS-REx’s delivery of an asteroid sample to Earth. The sample from asteroid Bennu landed on Earth on September 24, 2023.

Continuing on to Apophis

After OSIRIS-REx fired its thrusters to keep it from colliding with Earth, it continued on its way, eventually headed for Apophis. Apophis is an asteroid famous for how close it will come to Earth. On Friday, April 13, 2029, the 1,100-foot (340-meter) space rock will come within 19,662 miles (31,643 km) of Earth’s surface. That’s closer than many Earth-orbiting satellites. As the asteroid encounters Earth’s gravitational field, one result could be asteroid-quakes on Apophis. This passage will also change the orbit of Apophis slightly. Some observers will even be able to see Apophis as it passes.

OSIRIS-APEX, now renamed for its new target of Apophis, will reach the asteroid in 2029. This extended mission will have OSIRIS-APEX orbiting and studying Apophis for a year and a half. The spacecraft will venture close enough to the asteroid to stir up loose material.

Diagram of Earth, Apophis and OSIRIS orbits with all 3 meeting close together, labeled April 2029.
In April 2029, when asteroid Apophis makes its closest approach to Earth, the spacecraft OSIRIS-APEX will be there to observe. Image via NASA.

Bottom line: The spacecraft OSIRIS-REx dropped off an asteroid sample from Bennu on September 24, 2023, before continuing on a mission to Apophis as OSIRIS-APEX.

Via NASA

The post Asteroid sample returned safely to Earth first appeared on EarthSky.



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