NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has achieved a groundbreaking feat by delivering an unprecedented 4.29 ounces (121.6 grams) of asteroid Bennu material back to Earth, surpassing its mission goals. This remarkable achievement not only marks a significant milestone in space exploration but also paves the way for future scientific research and international collaboration in studying the origins of our solar system.
Exceeding expectations right from the start, the mission team had set a goal of collecting at least 60 grams of material to meet the mission’s science objectives. However, even before the Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM) head was fully opened, this requirement had already been surpassed. In October 2023, curation processors from NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston managed to extract small rocks and dust from both inside the large canister housing the TAGSAM head and from inside the head itself through its mylar flap.
Despite encountering challenges along the way, such as stubborn fasteners that delayed the disassembly of the TAGSAM head, the ARES curation engineers persevered. After designing, producing, and testing new tools, they successfully removed the fasteners in January, revealing the remaining Bennu sample. This precious material was then carefully poured into wedge-shaped containers, with 51.2 grams collected from this final pour. Combined with the previously measured 70.3 grams and additional particles collected outside of the pour, the total mass of the Bennu sample amounts to an impressive 121.6 grams.
The significance of this achievement lies not only in the quantity of the sample but also in its potential for future research. NASA plans to preserve at least 70% of the sample at Johnson Space Center, ensuring that scientists worldwide, including future generations, will have the opportunity to study it. The Bennu material will be containerized and distributed to researchers for in-depth analysis. A cohort of over 200 scientists from around the world, including those from various US institutions, NASA partners JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) and CSA (Canadian Space Agency), and more, will delve into the regolith’s properties as part of the OSIRIS-REx mission.
To facilitate global scientific collaboration, the curation team is set to release a catalog of the OSIRIS-REx samples later this spring. This catalog will make the asteroid sample available for request by researchers worldwide, further promoting international cooperation and advancing our understanding of the solar system’s origins.
The successful return of the largest-ever asteroid sample collected in space not only demonstrates the remarkable capabilities of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft but also signifies a triumph for the scientific community. This achievement opens up new avenues for research and exploration, ensuring that humanity’s quest to unravel the mysteries of our universe continues to thrive.
