Osiris-rex bennu asteroid

NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission collected samples from asteroid Bennu, a carbon-rich celestial body that may hold clues about the origin of the Solar System.

About this subject

The OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer) mission was launched by NASA on September 8, 2016, with the goal of studying the asteroid Bennu and collecting a sample from its surface. Bennu is a near-Earth asteroid classified as B-type, carbon-rich, and approximately 500 meters in diameter. Its orbit crosses Earth's every six years, making it potentially hazardous but also accessible for robotic missions.

The spacecraft arrived at Bennu in December 2018 and spent over two years mapping its rugged surface, covered with boulders and craters. On October 20, 2020, the TAGSAM (Touch-And-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism) robotic arm touched the surface for a few seconds, collecting about 250 grams of regolith. The sample is being returned to Earth and is expected to land in the Utah desert in September 2023.

Bennu is a primordial object formed about 4.5 billion years ago, and its composition may reveal information about the building blocks of planets and the origin of water and life on Earth. Additionally, studying its orbit helps refine models of asteroid impacts on our planet. The OSIRIS-REx mission is the first American effort to return samples from an asteroid, surpassing the Japanese Hayabusa2 mission, which returned samples from asteroid Ryugu in 2020.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the scientific importance of the Bennu sample?

The sample from Bennu may contain organic molecules and water, helping to understand the formation of the Solar System and the origin of the ingredients necessary for life on Earth.

When will the OSIRIS-REx sample arrive on Earth?

The sample capsule is expected to land in the Utah desert, United States, on September 24, 2023.

Does Bennu pose a collision risk with Earth?

Bennu is classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid, but the chances of impact in the next centuries are very low (about 1 in 2700 in the year 2182).