Watch NASA's OSIRIS-REx Spacecraft Attempt to Capture a Sample of Asteroid Bennu | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is attempting to collect a sample from the asteroid Bennu, a time capsule from the beginning of the solar system that may hold clues about the origins of life.

Key Insights

• 🥹 Bennu is a near-Earth asteroid that could hold valuable information about the early solar system and the origins of life.
• 🎟️ The OSIRIS-REx mission aims to collect a sample from Bennu and return it to Earth in 2023, which would be the largest sample return from space since the Apollo Moon missions.
• 🧑‍🔬 The mission also has implications for planetary defense, as studying asteroids like Bennu can help scientists understand and potentially mitigate future impact threats to Earth.

Transcript

OSIRIS-REX IS PREPARING SINCE THE APOLLO PROGRAM AFTER MONTHS OF DEFAILED ANALYSIS OF TERRAIN AND THE TEAM SELECTED THE CRATER AS THE SAMPLE SAFE FOR THE MISSION AND CAREFULLY DODGE ROCKY HAZARD AS DESCENDS TO SPACE NO LARGER THAN FEW PARKING SPOTS THIS SPACECRAFT IS NOT TERRAIN IN HIGH RESOLUTION CAPTURING A STUNNING CATALOG OF IMAGES ACROSS THE R... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: Why is the mission to collect a sample from Bennu significant?

Collecting a sample from Bennu could provide key insights into the origins of the solar system, the formation of planets, and the potential for life elsewhere in the universe.

Q: How does OSIRIS-REx navigate and collect the sample?

OSIRIS-REx uses a technique called natural feature tracking to navigate to the surface of Bennu. The spacecraft will extend a robotic arm with a tag device that releases gas to mobilize material, which is then trapped inside the tag head.

Q: What other objectives does the mission aim to achieve?

In addition to sample collection, the mission aims to study the composition of Bennu, map its surface, and understand its potential as a future impact threat to Earth.

Q: How does OSIRIS-REx communicate with Earth?

The spacecraft communicates with Earth through the Deep Space Network, and due to the distance, there is a delay of over 18 minutes in receiving signals. This means that real-time images and data will not be available immediately.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• OSIRIS-REx is preparing to collect a sample from the asteroid Bennu, which could provide valuable insights into the formation of planets and the origins of life.

• The spacecraft has spent months analyzing the terrain and selecting a safe site for the sample collection.

• Bennu is a near-Earth asteroid with a similar orbit to our planet, making it an ideal target for the mission.