The drogue parachute, the smaller sized of the 2 parachutes onboard the capsule, opened after climatic entry to help with stability and later separated from the pill. The main parachute deployed at 10:47 a.m. EDT (8:47 p.m. EDT). It slowed the pill below hypersonic speed to about 11 mph by the time it touched the ground.
This image reveals healing teams taking part in field wedding rehearsals in preparation for the retrieval of the sample return pill from NASAs OSIRIS-REx objective on August 29, 2023, at the Department of Defenses Utah Test and Training Range. The sample was collected from the asteroid Bennu in October 2020 by NASAs OSIRIS-REx spacecraft and has actually just arrived at Earth. Credit: NASA/Keegan Barber
NASAs OSIRIS-REx pill has safely returned asteroid Bennu samples to Earth, landing in Utah after a regulated descent.
The U.S. has, for the very first time, delivered rocks and dust from an asteroid to Earth. NASAs OSIRIS-REx sample pill, carrying a sample of asteroid Bennu, touched down on the Department of Defenses Utah Test and Training Range at 10:52 a.m. EDT (8:52 a.m. MDT)..
Radar information from the Utah Testing and Training Range validated that the pill went into Earths environment as prepared at 10:42 a.m. EDT (8:42 a.m. MDT) off the coast of California.
OSIRIS-REx: Touching destiny to Unearth Secrets of Our Origins.
Unveiling the secrets of deep space typically requires a journey beyond our pale blue dot. Enter the OSIRIS-REx mission, NASAs audacious venture to connect and touch an ancient relic of our planetary system.
Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer, or OSIRIS-REx for short, was not just a mouthful of a name however a huge mission with numerous goals. Launched in September 2016, its primary goal was to rendezvous with Bennu, a near-Earth asteroid.
But why Bennu?
Believed to be a carbon-rich body holding residues from our solar systems birth, Bennu promises hints about the foundation of life, the origins of natural particles, and the prehistoric procedures that paved the method for life in the world.
OSIRIS-RExs journey wasnt just a meet-and-greet. The spacecraft was charged to survey Bennu, map its terrain in fine detail, and after that, in an interstellar pirouette, connect its robotic arm to gather samples. This high-five with Bennu, known as the Touch-And-Go (TAG) maneuver, was a significant emphasize, with the spacecraft briefly making contact with the asteroids surface area to collect valuable regolith (rock and dust).
Area missions arent devoid of difficulties. Bennu ended up being a boulder-strewn surprise, with a rugged landscape making the TAG operation much more precarious. However, against the odds, in October 2020, OSIRIS-REx effectively collected its sample.
The journey culminated with the samples return to Earth just minutes ago, which will allow researchers a hands-on assessment of material untouched for billions of years. Beyond its clinical goals, OSIRIS-REx offers insights into asteroid dynamics, which may show crucial in future planetary defense techniques against potential asteroid impacts.
In essence, the OSIRIS-REx objective is more than just a space endeavor; its a bridge to our past, an insight into our cosmic area, and a beacon for future expeditions.
This image shows recovery teams taking part in field wedding rehearsals in preparation for the retrieval of the sample return capsule from NASAs OSIRIS-REx objective on August 29, 2023, at the Department of Defenses Utah Test and Training Range. The sample was gathered from the asteroid Bennu in October 2020 by NASAs OSIRIS-REx spacecraft and has actually just landed on Earth. OSIRIS-RExs journey wasnt just a meet-and-greet. Versus the chances, in October 2020, OSIRIS-REx successfully gathered its sample.
