Nasa Reveals First Look At Asteroid Sample

Nasa Reveals First Look At Asteroid Sample

Handout photo dated October 12, 2023 shows stromaterials processor Mari Montoya and OSIRIS-REx curation team members set the TAGSAM (Touch and Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism) down in the canister glovebox after removing it from the canister base and flipping it over. Nasa officials in Houston displayed images of salt-and-pepper chunks of rock and particles of dark space dust that were brought back to Earth from the asteroid, Bennu, and described initial scientific observations about the material. The mission, Osiris-Rex, concluded in September when a capsule containing the collection of asteroid samples re-entered through the Earth’s atmosphere and was recovered in the Utah desert. As technicians pried into the external container, they found that some of the material leaked out. Scientists were able to perform a quick analysis that revealed some early findings. The asteroid bits included waterlogged clay minerals. Their presence could help solve how Earth became a water planet. Asteroids similar to Bennu may

Osiris-REx Returns Sample Of Asteroid To Earth

Osiris-REx Returns Sample Of Asteroid To Earth

Handout artist's concept shows the OSIRIS-REx (Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security - Regolith Explorer) spacecraft contacting the asteroid Bennu with the Touch-And-Go Sample Arm Mechanism or TAGSAM. The mission aims to return a sample of Bennu's surface coating to Earth for study as well as return detailed information about the asteroid and it's trajectory. Photo by NASA via ABACAPRESS.COM