In a bold expansion of its mission, the spacecraft formerly known as Osiris-Rex will embark on an unprecedented journey to explore the asteroid Apophis.
The object is scheduled to make a historic approach to Earth in 2029, an event never seen before in recorded history.
The spaceship has now been renamed Osiris-Apex (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security – Apophis Explorer) leverages its successful past to expand into new space domains.
The OSIRIS-REx journey is truly extraordinary. After a seven-year, four-billion-mile expedition, they returned to Earth with samples from the asteroid Bennu.
The feat in September marked the pinnacle of space exploration. With the equipment still in excellent condition and a quarter of its fuel remaining, the decision to reuse the spacecraft for a new mission was a natural one.
Decision to explore the asteroid Apophis
Apophis is an “S-type” asteroid composed of silicate material and nickel-iron, in sharp contrast to the carbon-rich “C-type” Bennu.
After considering several potential destinations, including Venus and various comets, NASA chose Apophis because of its intriguing approach to Earth.
On April 13, 2029, Apophis will pass within 20,000 miles (32,000 kilometers) of Earth’s surface. It is closer than some satellites and may be visible to the naked eye in the Eastern Hemisphere.
An asteroid the size of Apophis, which is about 367 yards (340 meters) in diameter, comes this close to Earth only about once every 7,500 years. This rarity provides a valuable opportunity for scientific exploration and understanding.
Asteroid Apophis Mission Objective
According to NASA mission project scientist Amy Simon, Goddard Space Flight CenterOSIRIS-APEX aims to study Apophis just after it approaches Earth.
“OSIRIS-APEX will be able to study Apophis immediately after such a passage and observe how its surface changes due to interaction with Earth’s gravity.” simon.
This will allow scientists to observe surface changes caused by the asteroid’s gravitational interaction with Earth.
Furthermore, Dani Mendoza de la Justina, principal investigator of OSIRIS-APEX at the University of Arizona, Tucson, emphasizes the importance of this close-knit approach as a natural experiment.
“The close encounter is a wonderful natural experiment,” he said. della Justina. “We know that tidal forces and the accumulation of material in debris piles are fundamental processes that may play a role in planet formation. We’ll be able to tell if we’ve evolved from debris from the early solar system to full-fledged planets.”
The phenomenon could provide insight into tidal forces and debris pile accumulation, fundamental processes that may have played a role in planet formation.
Asteroid Apophis mission schedule
Apophis serves as an important subject in understanding potentially dangerous asteroids, most of which, like itself, are S-type.
Insights from this mission are critical to planetary defense research, a top NASA priority. By April 2, 2029, OSIRIS-APEX will begin filming Apophis catching up with the asteroid.
Earth-based telescopes are also scheduled to observe Apophis, but after the close encounter, the asteroid will be too close to the sun for ground-based optical telescopes to observe it.
This places OSIRIS-APEX in a unique location to detect changes due to the encounter.
Studying Apophis up close
Upon arrival on April 13, 2029, OSIRIS-APEX will operate near the asteroid for approximately 18 months. Its mission includes mapping the surface, analyzing its chemical composition, and performing a daring maneuver to dip within 16 feet of Apophis’ surface and kick up rocks and dust to reveal the material beneath. Masu.
Although the rendezvous is more than five years away, the OSIRIS-APEX journey includes six solar approaches and three Earth-based gravity assists, setting it on course for Apophis.
It remains to be seen what discoveries await us, but as Amy Simon poignantly explains, the results of previous Bennu missions have only deepened the scientific community’s curiosity and questions about Apophis. is.
In summary, OSIRIS-APEX’s mission to Apophis is both a continuation of the legacy of its predecessors and a step forward into new realms of possibility and discovery. It provides a glimpse into the formation process of our solar system and deepens our understanding of asteroid dynamics and planetary defense.
Learn more about OSIRIS-REx
As mentioned above, the OSIRIS-REx mission, an ambitious effort by NASA, marked an important milestone in space exploration and asteroid research.
The mission, launched on September 8, 2016, aimed to reach the near-Earth asteroid Bennu. Bennu is a carbon-rich object that scientists believe holds clues to the early solar system and the origin of life.
Mission overview and objectives
OSIRIS-REx, an acronym for Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer, has embarked on a multi-million mile journey. Its main purpose was to collect and return samples from Bennu’s surface.
The mission was of great scientific importance because asteroids like Bennu are remnants of the solar system’s formation and may contain organic compounds and water.
Journey to the asteroid Bennu
After a two-year journey, OSIRIS-REx arrived in Bennes in December 2018. The spacecraft then spent two years in the immediate vicinity of the asteroid, mapping its surface in unprecedented detail and choosing the best locations for sample collection.
This stage required complex maneuvers and precise navigation around the asteroid’s small gravitational field.
historical sample collection
In October 2020, Osiris-Rex made history by successfully landing on Bennu’s surface and collecting samples.
A “touch and go” (TAG) sample collection mechanism allowed the spacecraft to make brief contact with the asteroid and use a jet of nitrogen gas to stir up the regolith (surface material), which was then captured by the sampler head. .
Return and landing on Earth
Osiris-Rex, loaded with valuable cargo, began its journey back to Earth in May 2021. NASA’s Osiris-Rex team then successfully returned a capsule of rocks and dust from the asteroid Bennu to Earth, achieving a monumental milestone in space exploration.
The capsule entered Earth at 8:52 a.m. MDT on Sunday and carefully landed in a designated area at the Defense Department’s Utah Test and Training Range near Salt Lake City.
This event marked the first time that NASA had recovered a sample from an asteroid, providing valuable material for research that could revolutionize our understanding of the solar system and the beginnings of life.
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