NASA s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has begun its 1.4 billion mile journey back to Earth and it s carrying historic asteroid samples By Sophie Lewis NASA attempts historic touchdown on asteroid
After nearly five years in space, a NASA spacecraft is nearing the end of its historic mission, beginning its journey home to Earth with a plethora of asteroid samples.
NASA s Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft began its journey back to Earth on Monday a trip that s expected to take around two-and-a-half years. It s returning from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu, and it marks NASA s first-ever asteroid sample return mission.
Asteroid samples successfully sealed in capsule to return to Earth, NASA says By William Harwood NASA attempts historic touchdown on asteroid
An estimated two pounds or more of rock and soil collected from the asteroid Bennu by NASA s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft have been successfully sealed up in a protective re-entry capsule for return to Earth in 2023, project managers said Thursday.
While detailed hands-on analysis cannot begin until the samples are returned, scientists have already gained insights into the flaky nature of Bennu s soil, or regolith, by watching how it behaved when the rocks and soil were collected on October 20.
And that is already feeding into discussions about how to possibly one day divert a threatening asteroid from a collision with Earth.
The Biggest Science News of 2020
SCIENCE!!!!
Now that, friends, is how you introduce a science year-end list. Like everything else in 2020, science had one hell of a year. There were thrilling highs, like the record speed of creating coronavirus vaccines and our closest look ever at the surface of the Sun, but there were also gutting lows, like the toll of the virus, the worsening climate crisis, and the tragic collapse of the iconic Arecibo Observatory dish.
We’ve rounded up the most significant science stories of the year. They showcase the best researchers offered to us, the losses we experienced, and the cautionary tales if science goes unheeded.