OSIRIS-REx closed the return capsule with soil of the asteroid Bennu

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The interplanetary station OSIRIS-REx has completed the sampling of soil from the asteroid Bennu, closing the lid of the capsule with soil returned to Earth. In two years, it should make a soft landing on our planet, after which the soil will be in terrestrial laboratories, reported on the mission’s twitter.

The main task of the OSIRIS-REx station is to obtain a sample of the regolith from the surface of the near-Earth asteroid Bennu and deliver it to Earth. Apparatus smog to take soil on October 20, 2020 from the area “Nightingale” in the northern hemisphere of the asteroid, and then sent photos, demonstrated exactly how everything happened, as well as the process losses sampler of fine soil particles.

On October 27, the station began the operation of packing the head of the sampler into the capsule being returned to Earth, the process was continuously monitored by the onboard StowCam camera. On October 28, OSIRIS-REx sent in camera images confirming that the sampler head containing soil was in the correct position in the capsule and was latched into place. At the same time, the loss of a small amount of soil particles was noticeable. After that, the manipulator and tubes from the nitrogen cylinders were separated from the sampler, and then the engineers gave the station the command to close the capsule lid and seal it, which was successfully completed. Thus, the entire process of obtaining Bennu’s substance is finally completed.

A capsule with approximately 400 grams of asteroid soil is expected to land on polygon in Utah on September 24, 2023, after which she will be taken to a laboratory where she will be opened. Scientists believe that such studies will help to understand the mechanisms of formation of the solar system and the role of asteroids in the delivery of water and organic compounds to the young Earth.

You can learn about some of the discoveries made by the station and the difficulties of taking soil from Bennu from our materials. “Diamond-shaped celestial body” and “Poke an asteroid with a vacuum cleaner”.

Alexander Voytiuk

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