Chapter 1: The Journey of OSIRIS-REx

NASA embarked on an exhilarating mission by sending the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft to the asteroid Bennu. This daring expedition culminated in a remarkable achievement—the spacecraft collected a sample of the asteroid and returned it to Earth, akin to a cosmic treasure hunt.

Credit: University of Manchester

This marked a historic first for the United States, with OSIRIS-REx successfully landing back on Earth on September 24, 2023. The spacecraft didn't merely deliver rocks; it brought back significant insights into our ancient past.

Scientists are buzzing with excitement as they believe these asteroid samples may reveal whether ancient asteroid impacts on Earth delivered essential materials such as water and the building blocks of life. Picture asteroids as cosmic delivery vehicles!

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The main objective of the mission was to acquire a sample from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu. This sample holds the potential to uncover invaluable information regarding the asteroid's makeup and history, as well as insights into the early Solar System.

NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio/Data provided by NASA/University of Arizona/CSA/York University/MDA

Launched in 2016, OSIRIS-REx arrived at Bennu in 2018. However, the mission was not without its hurdles. The asteroid’s surface was filled with rugged terrain and perilous boulders, complicating the search for an appropriate collection site.

Despite these obstacles, the team’s perseverance and meticulous planning led to the identification of the “Nightingale” site—a crucial step in the mission's exploration of the asteroid. The spacecraft meticulously analyzed Bennu’s surface before selecting the “Nightingale” crater, which is both young and rocky.

NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio/Data provided by NASA/University of Arizona/CSA/York University/MDA

On October 20, 2020, OSIRIS-REx achieved a historic milestone by extending its robotic arm and lightly touching the surface of Bennu. This bold maneuver, known as “Touch-And-Go” or TAG, was a first for NASA.

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During this remarkable event, the spacecraft collected dust and small rocks from Bennu. Just two days later, the mission team received images confirming that OSIRIS-REx had gathered more than the targeted amount of material, surpassing its goal of obtaining at least 2 ounces (60 grams) of surface material.

Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

On October 28, 2020, the mission team instructed the spacecraft to seal the sample capsule, marking the successful completion of one of the most challenging phases of the entire mission. This achievement signifies a key milestone in our journey to uncover the Solar System's secrets and understand celestial bodies like Bennu.

On May 10, the spacecraft executed a pivotal maneuver, firing its main engines at full capacity for seven minutes. This was its most significant action since arriving at Bennu in 2018.

During this impressive burn, the spacecraft accelerated away from the asteroid at a speed of 600 miles per hour (nearly 1,000 kilometers per hour), setting it on a trajectory for a 2.5-year return journey to Earth with invaluable samples from Bennu.

Chapter 2: The Importance of Asteroid Samples

Why are these samples essential for scientific exploration? They serve as time capsules from an ancient asteroid, untouched until now. Scientists can extract crucial insights regarding the composition of the asteroid and the early Solar System, similar to understanding the materials that constructed our celestial neighborhood.

The potential to unveil secrets regarding the formation and history of the Solar System is immense. By analyzing these samples, researchers can learn about the origins of the Solar System and its evolution over time—like reading a narrative about the cosmic beginnings.

These samples could also inform us whether asteroids were responsible for delivering critical elements, such as water and life’s building blocks, to Earth. This knowledge is akin to discovering how Earth acquired its essential ingredients for life.

The success of OSIRIS-REx serves as an inspiration and a guide for future missions. It demonstrates our capacity to explore and retrieve samples from other celestial bodies. The insights gained from OSIRIS-REx will aid in planning upcoming space missions to asteroids and beyond, enhancing our understanding of the Solar System and potentially identifying resources for future exploration endeavors.

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This video titled "OSIRIS-REx: Revealing Secrets from the Dawn of our Solar System (Exploring Space Lecture)" delves into the mission's objectives and discoveries.

The second video, "Looking for the Building Blocks of Life in Asteroid Samples," explores the implications of the samples collected from Bennu for understanding the origins of life.