NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission has reached a major milestone by successfully accessing the treasure trove of asteroid material that the probe collected during its billion-mile journey. After months of anticipation, a group of NASA technicians managed to remove two stubborn fasteners that had locked away the precious cargo, granting scientists unprecedented access to the asteroid material.
The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft made history in September 2023 when it became the first U.S. mission to bring back an asteroid sample to Earth. The sample had been securely stored within a return capsule, tantalizingly close but out of reach due to two stuck fasteners that the team’s limited number of approved tools were unable to open.
While 70.3 grams (2.48 ounces) of material had already been accessed from the outside of the sampler head, known as the Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM), the majority of the asteroid sample material remained trapped within the capsule. However, with the removal of the two fasteners, the bulk of the asteroid material is now accessible.
The astromaterials curation team at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston will now proceed with disassembling the TAGSAM head to access the remaining asteroid material. This includes dust and rocks up to about 0.4 inches (one cm) in size. The final mass of the sample will be determined in the coming weeks.
The significance of this achievement cannot be overstated. Asteroid Bennu, believed to be a primitive space rock dating back to the early days of our solar system, has the potential to provide invaluable insights into the formation and evolution of celestial bodies. By studying samples collected from its surface, scientists hope to unlock essential clues about our cosmic neighborhood, furthering our understanding of the universe’s mysteries.
In fact, NASA plans to release a catalog of all the Bennu samples later this year. This catalog will enable scientists and institutions worldwide to submit requests for research or display, opening up new avenues of scientific exploration. The wealth of information contained within these samples could pave the way for groundbreaking discoveries and advancements in our understanding of the cosmos.
While the OSIRIS-REx mission has successfully completed its task of collecting and accessing the asteroid material, the spacecraft itself is not done exploring. It has undergone a name change and a new mission. Now known as OSIRIS-APEX, the probe is embarking on a five-year journey to study the asteroid Apophis. Named after the ancient Egyptian god of chaos, Apophis is set to approach our planet, providing scientists with another opportunity to delve into the mysteries of our universe.
The OSIRIS-REx mission’s success in accessing the treasure trove of asteroid material is a testament to human ingenuity and perseverance. It marks a significant achievement in space exploration and sets the stage for future missions that will continue to push the boundaries of our knowledge. As we eagerly await the release of the Bennu sample catalog, we can only imagine the groundbreaking discoveries that lie ahead and the profound impact they will have on our understanding of the cosmos.