OSIRIS-REx Departure: Farewell to Asteroid Bennu

TL;DR

NASA's Osiris-Rex spacecraft is leaving asteroid Bennu after two and a half years, marking the beginning of its journey back to Earth with a historic sample return mission.

Transcript

fire its engines and bid farewell to asteroid bedroom hello everyone today is a big day at nasa after two and a half years of space operations near asteroid bennu nasa's first asteroid return mission osiris-rex is ready to bid far well to this fascinating rocky object i'm your host joy ung and i'm joining you from nasa's goddard space flight center... Read More

Key Insights

• ❤️‍🩹 Osiris-Rex's departure from asteroid Bennu marks the beginning of the end of its mission, as it begins its journey back to Earth.
• 💁 The mission's sample return is significant, as it will provide valuable insights into the formation of the solar system and the origins of life.
• 🦖 Lockheed Martin's mission support area in Colorado has been closely involved in monitoring and controlling Osiris-Rex's operations.
• 😤 Osiris-Rex faced challenges in navigating around Bennu due to its rugged surface, but the team successfully selected the Nightingale site for sample collection.

Questions & Answers

Q: How long will it take for Osiris-Rex to return to Earth?

The journey back to Earth will take more than two years as Osiris-Rex orbits the sun twice before catching up with Earth in September 2023.

Q: What is the significance of Osiris-Rex's sample return mission?

Osiris-Rex's mission is historic as it will bring back the largest sample since the Apollo astronauts brought back moon rocks in the 1970s. This sample will provide valuable insights into the formation of the solar system and the origins of life.

Q: How did Osiris-Rex navigate around asteroid Bennu?

Osiris-Rex faced challenges navigating around Bennu due to its rocky surface. The team had to fly additional closed passes over the asteroid and reassess their plan for sample collection. They ultimately selected the Nightingale site as the primary sample site.

Q: What will happen to the sample after it is recovered on Earth?

After the sample return capsule is recovered, it will be taken to a portable clean lab in Utah for preliminary disassembly. The part containing the Bennu sample will be packaged in a travel box in a nitrogen atmosphere and flown to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Texas for further study and distribution to laboratories worldwide.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Osiris-Rex begins its journey back to Earth, marking the end of its mission near asteroid Bennu.

• The spacecraft will take more than two years to return and will bring back the largest sample since the Apollo astronauts brought back rocks from the moon.

• Lockheed Martin's mission support area in Littleton, Colorado has been closely monitoring Osiris-Rex's operations and will provide an update on today's departure event.