NASA Finally Prises Lid Off The Largest Haul of Asteroid Dust Ever Obtained
Scientists working to remove the lid of the TAGSAM head (Robert Markowitz/NASA).
NASA Accesses Collected Asteroid Dust
After over 3.5 months, scientists have successfully opened the sample container of NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, allowing them to access the rocks and dirt collected from asteroid Bennu. The sample can now be distributed to science teams worldwide for further analysis.
Astronomer Dante Lauretta of the University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory expresses his excitement, stating that the achievement reflects the dedication and ingenuity of the team. He also emphasizes the significance of OSIRIS-REx in advancing our understanding of the cosmos.
OSIRIS-REx completed its mission after over 7 years, which included a flyby of Earth on September 24. The sample capsule was airdropped to the Utah desert and promptly transported to a clean facility to minimize terrestrial contamination.
Overcoming Challenges
Despite the outer capsule opening easily and providing access to 70 grams of asteroid dust, the main TAGSAM head remained sealed due to two stubborn fasteners. The team had to develop new tools to release these fasteners, resulting in the successful opening of the head.
The design and functionality of the tools posed challenges, as they needed to be limited to curation-approved materials and fit within the confined space of the glovebox. Petrologist Nicole Lunning, OSIRIS-REx curator at NASA's Johnson Space Flight Center, praises the team's resilience in overcoming these obstacles.
While there is still more work to be done for the full disassembly and examination of the sample, overcoming these two fasteners is a significant milestone that paves the way for further scientific investigation.
A Glimpse into the Largest Haul of Asteroid Dirt
With the lid finally off, scientists anticipate being able to examine and measure the largest haul of asteroid dirt ever collected and delivered to Earth by a human mission.
While OSIRIS-REx, now renamed OSIRIS-APEX, is heading towards its next destination, the potentially hazardous asteroid Apophis, the successful extraction of the Bennu sample reinforces NASA's commitment to exploring and expanding our knowledge of the cosmos.
The rendezvous with Apophis is scheduled for 2029.
