Over 120 Grams of Asteroid Bennu Material Delivered by OSIRIS-REx Spacecraft

Written by Copernical Team Tuesday, 27 February 2024 19:29

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Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 27, 2024

NASA's groundbreaking OSIRIS-REx mission has set a new benchmark in space exploration by delivering a staggering 4.29 ounces (121.6 grams) of asteroid material to Earth, marking the largest ever asteroid sample collection. The spacecraft's triumphant return on September 24, 2023, with samples from asteroid Bennu, not only surpassed the mission's initial goal of 60 grams but also highlighted the

Over 120 Grams of Asteroid Bennu Material Delivered by OSIRIS-REx Spacecraft
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 27, 2024

NASA's groundbreaking OSIRIS-REx mission has set a new benchmark in space exploration by delivering a staggering 4.29 ounces (121.6 grams) of asteroid material to Earth, marking the largest ever asteroid sample collection. The spacecraft's triumphant return on September 24, 2023, with samples from asteroid Bennu, not only surpassed the mission's initial goal of 60 grams but also highlighted the exceptional success of the Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM).

The Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) division at NASA's Johnson Space Center played a pivotal role in the curation of the Bennu samples. In a meticulous process starting in October 2023, the ARES team managed to extract small rocks and dust particles from the TAGSAM head's housing canister and through the mylar flap of the head itself, ensuring a rich collection of extraterrestrial material for analysis.

However, the mission faced a technical challenge when two fasteners on the TAGSAM head proved difficult to remove, temporarily halting the disassembly process. The determination and ingenuity of the ARES engineers shone through as they designed, produced, and tested new tools to successfully overcome this obstacle in January, leading to the completion of the TAGSAM head disassembly.

The careful processing of the Bennu samples resulted in the collection of an additional 1.81 ounces (51.2 grams) of material, bringing the total mass to 4.29 ounces. This achievement is a testament to the mission's precise planning and execution. NASA has announced plans to preserve at least 70% of the Bennu sample at the Johnson Space Center for future research by the global scientific community, emphasizing the sample's value for ongoing and future scientific inquiries into the origins and evolution of our solar system.

The OSIRIS-REx samples will soon be distributed among a global network of researchers, including over 200 scientists from various institutions and NASA's international partners like JAXA and CSA. This collaborative effort underscores the mission's importance in enhancing our understanding of asteroids and their role in the broader cosmos.

Looking ahead, NASA's ARES division is preparing to release a comprehensive catalog of the OSIRIS-REx samples this spring, making these invaluable asteroid materials accessible for research. This initiative promises to open new frontiers in our quest for knowledge about the early solar system and the processes that may have led to the emergence of life on Earth.

NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission, through its unprecedented sample collection and the collaborative efforts of an international scientific community, stands as a monumental achievement in space exploration, setting the stage for future missions to further unravel the mysteries of our universe.