In a historic achievement, the United States has successfully brought samples of rocks and dust from asteroid Bennu back to Earth via NASA‘s OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer) mission. The capsule carrying the precious cargo touched down as planned at the Department of Defense‘s Utah Test and Training Range at 8:52 a.m. MDT (2:52 a.m. UTC). Radar data from the Utah Testing and Training Range confirmed the capsule’s entry into Earth’s atmosphere off the coast of California at 8:42 a.m. MDT (2:42 a.m. UTC). The capsule’s descent was facilitated by a series of parachute deployments, with the main parachute slowing down to a safe landing speed of approximately 11 mi/h (17.7 km/h).

Scientists and technicians initiated a meticulously coordinated recovery process once the sample capsule was safely secured on the ground. This process included carefully packaging the 100-lb (45.36-kg) capsule in Teflon and a tarp, attaching it to a helicopter via a 100-ft (30.48-m) cable, and transporting it to a temporary clean room for further handling. This clean room is crucial for preserving the scientific integrity of the sample by subjecting it to a continuous flow of inert nitrogen gas, preventing contamination from Earth’s environment.

The samples retrieved from asteroid 101955 Bennu, estimated at 8.8 oz (250 g), hold great promise for advancing our understanding of planetary formation, organic compounds, water sources, and the potential threat asteroids pose. The mission’s success is a testament to years of dedicated effort by the OSIRIS-REx team, from the spacecraft’s launch in 2016 to its arrival at Bennu in 2018, sample collection in 2020, and the safe return to Earth in 2021. This achievement signifies the beginning of a new phase of scientific inquiry as researchers worldwide eagerly await the opportunity to analyze these precious extraterrestrial specimens.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson commended the mission’s success, emphasizing its significance in unraveling the mysteries of our solar system and enhancing our preparedness for potentially hazardous asteroids. With this historic achievement, NASA demonstrates its capability to undertake groundbreaking missions that inspire and unite us in the quest for scientific knowledge.

References

• Shekhtman, L. (2023a, September 24). Capsule Containing Asteroid Bennu Sample Has Landed. NASA OSIRIS-REx Mission; NASA. https://blogs.nasa.gov/osiris-rex/2023/09/24/capsule-containing-asteroid-bennu-sample-has-landed/
• Shekhtman, L. (2023b, September 24). Helicopter Transports Sample Capsule to Clean Room. NASA OSIRIS-REx Mission; NASA. https://blogs.nasa.gov/osiris-rex/2023/09/24/helicopter-transports-sample-capsule-to-clean-room/
• Shekhtman, L. (2023c, September 24). NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Capsule Secured in Utah Clean Room. NASA OSIRIS-REx Mission; NASA. https://blogs.nasa.gov/osiris-rex/2023/09/24/nasas-osiris-rex-capsule-secured-in-utah-clean-room/
• Shekhtman, L. (2023d, September 24). NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Team in Field for Capsule Recovery. NASA OSIRIS-REx Mission; NASA. https://blogs.nasa.gov/osiris-rex/2023/09/24/nasas-osiris-rex-team-in-field-for-capsule-recovery/