NASA’s highly-anticipated reveal of the asteroid sample collected by its OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is just around the corner. The world will get its first glimpse of the sample on Wednesday, October 11, at 11 AM ET. The livestream of the reveal will be available for space enthusiasts and curious minds alike.
The sample, taken from the near-Earth asteroid known as “Bennu,” was brought back to Earth in a capsule on September 24. Since its arrival, scientists have been meticulously analyzing the rocks and dust to uncover valuable insights about our solar system’s history and the potential origins of life.
The journey to retrieve this sample wasn’t a simple task. OSIRIS-REx collected the precious material from Bennu in 2020 after spending an entire year and a half observing the asteroid. This painstaking process required engineers and scientists to carefully navigate the spacecraft through the asteroid’s rocky terrain before successfully securing the sample and launching it back toward Earth.
Now, with the sample safely returned, scientists are eager to delve into the analyses that will shed light on the composition and characteristics of Bennu. This asteroid, measuring approximately 1,614 feet (longer than the Empire State Building), is of immense interest to researchers due to its carbon-rich materials that may provide insights into the organic compounds necessary for life.
However, OSIRIS-REx’s mission doesn’t end here. The spacecraft is already en route to another intriguing asteroid called Apophis, this time under the new mission name OSIRIS-APEX. Scientists hope that the study of Apophis will offer crucial data regarding the impact hazard posed by near-Earth asteroids.
The Liberty Conservative looks forward to providing its readers with the latest updates on NASA’s asteroid exploration missions, as the reveal of the Bennu sample marks a significant milestone in our quest to uncover the mysteries of the cosmos. Stay tuned for the livestream on Wednesday, and join us in celebrating the strides that humanity is taking towards unlocking the secrets of the universe.
