University of Arizona’s Dante Lauretta has been eagerly awaiting the return of a small robotic capsule carrying rocks from an asteroid for almost two decades. This capsule is part of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission, which was launched in 2016 with the primary goal of retrieving pieces of a carbon-rich asteroid called Bennu. These samples will help scientists study organic molecules, which are the building blocks of life.
On September 24, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft released the canister containing the asteroid samples, while the mothership continued on a separate mission. Equipped with a heat shield to withstand temperatures surpassing 5,000° Fahrenheit during reentry into Earth’s atmosphere, the capsule began its journey back home.
The landing process was carefully planned to ensure a safe return. It involved the deployment of a drogue parachute to stabilize the craft, followed by a larger main chute to slow down its descent for a gentle landing. However, as captured by video footage, there were tense moments as the capsule started tumbling towards the ground at high speed, indicating a potential issue with the parachutes.
Inside a nearby helicopter, Dante Lauretta received updates on the situation and grew concerned when the drogue parachute failed to deploy at the expected altitude. This turn of events brought back memories of a previous NASA mission named Genesis, which ended with a crash and uncontrolled impact in Utah. Salvaging the specimens from that mission proved to be a significant challenge.
Lauretta described a similar crash as the “worst-case scenario” for OSIRIS-REx. In such a scenario, scientists would have to act quickly to gather as much of the asteroid sample as possible while ensuring it remains uncontaminated by Earth’s soil and life-forms.
Now, with the capsule safely retrieved, the scientists will closely examine the samples brought back from Bennu. These carbon-rich rocks hold vital clues about the formation of our solar system and the potential for extraterrestrial life. The analysis of these organic molecules will provide valuable insights into the origins of life on Earth and the possibility of life existing elsewhere in the universe.
The successful return of the OSIRIS-REx mission marks another significant achievement for NASA and the field of space exploration. This mission not only showcases the ingenuity and capabilities of our scientists and engineers, but it also brings us closer to unraveling the mysteries of our universe and our place within it.
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