NASA‘s capsule returns with asteroid Bennu samples

NASA has confirmed the return of its capsule consisting of the asteroid Bennu sample in the west desert of Utah.

The sample had been scooped up from the surface of asteroid Bennu in 2020 by the Osiris-Rex spacecraft. It is likely to provide fresh insights into the formation of the solar system 4.6 billion years ago and possibly how life started.

The capsule made its soft landing on the desert land belonging to the Department of Defence at 14:52 GMT, three minutes ahead of schedule. The 250g cargo entered the atmosphere at a speed more than 12 km/s.

A heat shield and parachutes slowed its descent and dropped it gently on the restricted ground.

Researchers suggest the best way to protect the sample is by getting it from the field and putting it into a clean lab under a pure nitrogen gas purge as soon as possible.

They believe that if the sample contains carbon components that may have been involved in the creation of life then mixing of the rocky materials with the present-day Earth chemistry has to be avoided.

As per NASA’s director of planetary science, Lori Gaze, “One of the most important parts of a sample-return mission is we take 75% of that sample and we’re going to lock it away for future generations, for people who haven’t even been born yet to work in laboratories that don’t exist today, using instrumentation we haven’t even thought of yet.”

Subscribe to Daily Newsletter :

SUPPORT US

We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.