This Sunday, Earth anticipates the arrival of a truly exceptional delivery from space, marking the culmination of nearly three years of meticulous planning by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission. Scheduled for approximately 10:55 a.m. ET, the spacecraft is set to deliver the largest asteroid sample ever collected, making it a momentous occasion in the realm of space exploration. This feat has only been attempted twice before in history.
The OSIRIS-REx mission commenced its journey in 2018 when it began orbiting the asteroid known as Bennu. Then, in 2020, it executed a daring maneuver, descending upon the space rock that rivals the Empire State Building in size, and successfully gathered a sample estimated to be equivalent to the contents of a cup, as reported by NPR.
If all goes according to plan, upon touchdown in the Utah desert on Sunday, a complex and meticulously choreographed operation will swing into action to secure the invaluable scientific data carried within the payload.
Once scientists gain access to the sample, a fascinating phase of analysis awaits. According to NASA planetary scientist Noah Petro, segments of the fragments extracted from the sample will be distributed to over 200 researchers for a comprehensive examination. This scrutiny will involve processes such as baking, laser analysis, and cutting the material in half.
Scientists across the globe are gearing up to utilize 60 distinct analytical techniques to study the asteroid, both inside and outside the return capsule carrying the sample, as outlined by Dante Lauretta, the principal investigator for OSIRIS-REx, during a recent NASA press conference.
The ultimate aim of this scientific endeavor is to unravel the mysteries of processes that unfolded long before the birth of our solar system, as Lauretta emphasized. It’s estimated that the sample contains approximately 250 grams of regolith, the dusty surface material of the asteroid, well exceeding the minimum quantity initially promised and providing ample material for comprehensive research.
Lori Glaze, director of NASA’s Planetary Science Division, elucidated that asteroids occupy different regions within the galaxy, each preserving unique information about distinct periods in the history of our galaxy. Bennu, the chosen celestial body for this mission, hails from one of the galaxy’s oldest sections, offering insights into the formation of our solar system.
Anticipation runs high among scientists like Noah Petro, who anticipates remarkable discoveries in the cosmic dust. Petro enthused that they may uncover chemistry that played a pivotal role in seeding Earth with the essential components for the emergence of complex life billions of years ago.
As we eagerly await the arrival of this extraordinary celestial package, it serves as a testament to human ingenuity and our unending quest to unlock the secrets of the cosmos.