NASA awaits asteroid sample delivery

The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is set to drop off a capsule containing the first asteroid sample returned by a U.S. mission, with the hope it will land intact in the Utah desert


OSIRIS-REx: Launched in 2016. Collected 250 grams of dust and rocks from asteroid Bennu in 2020

Bennu

To scale


PATH TO TOUCHDOWN

1 Sep 24, 10.42GMT: Spacecraft releases Sample Return Capsule

2 14.42:Capsule enters atmosphere at speeds of 45,000km/h and altitude of 132km

3 Capsule reaches peak temperature of over 2,700°C

4 Drogue parachute deployed to stabilize capsule

5 14.50: Main parachute unfurls 1.6km above Earth, reducing speed to 18km/h

6 14.55: Soft landing at Utah Test and Training Range


Heat shield

Sample head

Samples set to shed light on formation of solar system and origin of organics that may have led to life on Earth


Touchdown
Salt Lake City
Pacific Ocean
UNITED STATES
Gulf of Mexico

Houston: Capsule flown by helicopter for study at Johnson Space Center
 

Sources: NASA, Lockheed Martin
Pictures: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona, Earth 3D
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