Scientists are now one step closer to samples from the asteroid Bennu collected by the OSIRIS-Rex probe. After the lander was transported to the Johnson Center in Houston, Texas, its gradual disassembly took place. Currently, the lid of the container, where the TAGSAM (Touch and Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism) sampling mechanism is located, was also opened. As Professor Paul Byrne reported on the X Network, the scientists literally gasped in amazement when they saw that the lid itself was already covered inside with a fine, dark-colored dust.
The first images already indicated the appearance of dark deposits of dust from the planet, and we have not yet seen the material itself. We are waiting for confirmation that roughly 250 grams of it has been taken, and we are anxiously awaiting at least images of what the material from the asteroid looks like. They will probably be very dark stones of various sizes.
Specialists Levi Hanish and Michael Kaye of Lockheed Martin removed the lid of the container concealing the OSIRIS-Rex collection mechanism.
Author: NASA/Robert Markowiz, source:
NASA will let us know the details on October 11th at a press conference with prominent figures such as NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, OSIRIS-Rex Administrator Francis McCubbin from NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Sample Analysis Team Leader Daniel Glavin from NASA’s Goddard Center, and OSIRIS Science Team Leader -Rex Dante Lauretta of the University of Arizona.
We wrote about the return of the OSIRIS-Rex probe case in a previous article.
Sources of information:
blogs.nasa.gov
Image Sources:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F6_RnBCX0AAH0JC?format=jpg&name=orig
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2023-09-28 12:59:53
#lid #container #samples #planet #Bennu #opened
