Space exploration continues to amaze us and push the boundaries of our understanding of the universe. The latest feat comes from NASA, which managed to recover a piece of the asteroid Bennu. This mission, carried out by the Osiris-Rex probe, ended with the landing of the capsule containing the sample in the Utah desert, in the United States.
After seven years of travel in space, the Osiris-Rex probe succeeded in collecting stones and dust from the asteroid Bennu in 2020. These are around 250 grams of material which could provide us with valuable information on asteroids which could pose a threat to the Earth, as well as the origins of our solar system.
This mission was highly delicate, because the capsule containing the sample had to be released into space more than 100,000 km from Earth, four hours before landing in the Utah desert. During the last thirteen minutes of its fall, the capsule passed through the atmosphere at a dizzying speed of more than 44,000 km/h, with a temperature rising up to 2,700°C. Fortunately, two parachutes managed to slow down its descent to avoid a hard landing.
Once the capsule was on the ground, a NASA team checked its condition before placing it in an airtight room. This precaution is essential to avoid any contamination of the sample, which could distort subsequent analyses. Today, the capsule will be flown to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, where it will be opened in another sealed room. The first results of the analyzes will be revealed during a press conference scheduled for October 11.
This sample return is historic for NASA, as it represents the largest sample reported since the moon rocks of the Apollo program in 1972. The majority of this sample will be preserved for study by future generations, while 25% will be used for immediate experiments. A small part will also be shared with Japan and Canada, who are partners in this mission.
This mission raises many questions about the origins of our solar system and how asteroids can influence the development of life on Earth. Asteroids are composed of the original materials of the solar system, and their study can teach us more about our own origin. In addition, they represent a possible threat to our planet, hence the importance of studying their composition and behavior.
In conclusion, NASA’s Osiris-Rex mission recovered a piece of the asteroid Bennu, providing a window into the origins of our solar system. This result is the result of many years of preparation and scientific know-how. Analyzes of this sample will be crucial to deepen our understanding of the universe and to prevent possible threats that asteroids may pose to our planet.