We now know precisely how a lot materials OSIRIS-REx captured from its goal asteroid Bennu — and, it is rather a lot.
Along with the two.48 ounces (70.3 grams) of pattern already collected from the skin of the canister, NASA has lastly managed to completely open OSIRIS-REx’s pattern container to seek out one other 1.81 ounces (51.2 grams) of asteroid Bennu inside.
OSIRIS-REx accomplished its asteroid pattern return mission when the probe parachuted a tightly-sealed container again to Earth on Sep. 24, 2023 earlier than embarking on its secondary mission dubbed OSIRIS-APEX, named for its subsequent area rock goal, Apophis.
With this container got here the primary items of an asteroid NASA has ever captured and returned for additional research. The mission launched in Sep. 2016, and the protected restoration of the capsule final yr was the ceremonious finish to an epic seven-year journey by way of area. Nonetheless, as soon as NASA technicians received a maintain of the pattern container, they stumbled upon some issues — it was too tough to open.
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OSIRIS-REx’s authentic mission purpose was to gather as much as 2.12 ounces (60 grams) of fabric, which was truly met with even simply bits of Bennu noticed throughout the container’s exterior. Nonetheless, the group knew there needed to be rather more inside.
So, so as to entry the whole thing of the Bennu pattern, NASA groups began designing a brand new instrument to open the sealed container.
To speak specifics, the container was truly secured inside a bigger enclosure, constructed for defense in the course of the probe’s arduous journey. As OSIRIS-REx collected its asteroid samples in area, a portion of the fabric wound up inside this protecting enclosure however exterior the designated pattern container, gifting scientists among the Bennu pattern earlier than the principle canister was unlocked.
Far exceeding their expectations, mission operators managed to gather 2.48 ounces (70.3 grams) earlier than ever opening the inaccessible a part of the OSIRIS-REx return capsule. Nonetheless, scientists and area lovers all over the place remained ready to see what OSIRIS-REx’s grand pattern whole could be. And now, the brand new instrument having been derived, scientists have entry to the entire probe’s asteroid pattern, and the outcomes are in.
Mixed with the samples already collected, OSIRIS-REx returned a complete of 4.29 ounces (121.6 grams) of fabric from asteroid Bennu — that is greater than double the mission’s purpose and the biggest asteroid pattern ever collected, in line with a current NASA release. For comparability, the Japanese Aerospace Company’s Hayabusa2 mission solely introduced again about 0.18 ounces (5 grams) of fabric from its asteroid goal, Ryugu, in Dec. 2020.
Examination of the samples has already begun, and scientists are discovering “a complete realm of fabric” beforehand inaccessible utilizing samples collected from meteorites, in line with Dante Lauretta, principal investigator for OSIRIS-REx. Bennu is believed to be a remnant of the early photo voltaic system, and scientists suppose learning these samples might assist unravel some mysteries of early planetary improvement.
A few quarter of the Bennu pattern will stay with researchers on the OSIRIS-REx analysis group. NASA additionally plans to protect a minimum of 70 p.c of the pattern for research by scientists worldwide, in addition to for future generations of researchers.
