UNITED STATES: NASA’s OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission is poised for its most daring feat yet as it nears Earth for a high-stakes atmospheric reentry and recovery. On September 24, after a seven-year odyssey, the spacecraft will deliver a historic payload—a capsule bearing surface material from the asteroid Bennu, marking a groundbreaking achievement for NASA.
Launched on September 8, 2016, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Base, OSIRIS-REx embarked on a two-year journey to rendezvous with Bennu. After reaching orbit around the asteroid in August 2018, OSIRIS-REx meticulously scanned and mapped its rugged surface for two more years.
In a pivotal moment on October 20, 2020, OSIRIS-REx descended to Bennu’s surface, retrieving vital material that was safely stored in the sample return capsule. A May 2021 propulsion system burn set the probe on a 1.2-billion-mile rendezvous course back to Earth.
As OSIRIS-REx draws closer, the most challenging phase of the mission awaits—the capsule’s atmospheric re-entry and landing. Teams have rigorously rehearsed each step over the past six months, knowing that precision is paramount.
The critical separation of the sample capsule is slated for 6:42 a.m. EDT at an altitude of approximately 63,000 miles above Earth. Ensuring flawless alignment is imperative, as the slightest deviation could jeopardize the entire mission. Upon entering Earth’s upper atmosphere at 10:42 a.m. EDT, the return capsule will hurtle through a fiery descent, protected by a specially designed shell.
This will enable it to withstand intense heat and forces up to 32 times Earth’s gravity, all while enveloped in a blazing inferno. At around 10:50 a.m. EDT, the main parachute will deploy, gently lowering the capsule for its anticipated landing in the Utah desert at 10:55 a.m. EDT.
The world will hold its breath as this remarkable journey culminates in a historic touchdown. Subsequently, meticulous procedures will follow, ensuring the integrity of both the capsule and the precious Bennu samples.
Once verified safe, the capsule will be transported to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, where scientists from around the globe will embark on a new era of asteroid research, unlocking the secrets of our cosmic past.
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