A NASA team at Johnson Space Center has finally succeeded in opening a canister containing dust from the 4.6 billion-year-old asteroid Bennu, which was collected by the OSIRIS-REx mission.
The team used specially designed tools to open the case without contaminating the samples with Earth’s air, providing valuable information about the formation of the early solar system.
After the success of the Bennu mission, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft headed towards the asteroid Apophis, which is believed to have the potential to collide with Earth, but it has now been confirmed that there is no danger from it.
In an important development in the field of space exploration, scientists from NASA at the Johnson Space Center in Houston were able to accomplish the task of opening a can containing dust from the asteroid Bennu, which dates back 4.6 billion years. This enclosure is a key part of the OSIRIS-REx mission, and has been a major challenge for the science team since its return to Earth four months ago.
The goal of NASA’s launch of the Osiris-Rex spacecraft was to collect samples from the asteroid Bennu, which is classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid due to its small probability of colliding with Earth. The main goal of this mission was to gain a deeper understanding of the formation of the solar system in its early stages.
Facing challenges and finding solutions
When the sampling capsule landed in the Utah desert in September 2023, scientists were able to successfully extract most of the rock samples. However, there was additional material remaining inside the sampler head that was not accessed due to two mechanical obstacles. The team at Johnson Space Center worked diligently, using special tools made of non-magnetic stainless steel to ensure that the samples were not contaminated with Earth’s air. After continuous efforts, the team finally succeeded in opening the can and extracting the samples.
Samples recovered from the asteroid Bennu, estimated at about 9 ounces, are among the oldest known materials in our solar system. Researchers, including Ashley King from the Natural History Museum in London, believe that these samples hold invaluable information about how the solar system was formed, in addition to providing clues about how environments capable of supporting life appeared on planets like Earth.
Expansion of space exploration
After its successful mission with the asteroid Bennu, the billion-dollar Osiris-Rex spacecraft is heading toward its next target: the asteroid Apophis. Despite previous fears that Apophis might collide with Earth, current forecasts indicate that it will pass by Earth in 2029 without any danger.
The moment the box was successfully opened marked a significant turning point for the NASA Johnson Space Center team. The scientific community is living in a state of anticipation and excitement to analyze these ancient materials that may reveal the secrets of the formation of our solar system and how planets evolved to become habitable. This achievement reflects NASA’s continued leadership in space exploration, paving the way for more space missions and discoveries in the future.
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