More than three and a half months after OSIRIS-REx returned the asteroid sampler container to Earth, the first high-resolution images of the contents of NASA’s precious Bennu asteroid sampler container are finally available.
This delay was caused by two cumbersome clasps that held the sampler lid in place, and it was finally opened on January 10th.
On January 19, NASA released the long-awaited first images of the sampler’s contents: up to about 1 centimeter (0.4 inch) of black dust and rock.
Although the contents may seem very mundane, remember that you are looking at asteroid material that is thought to have remained untouched for about 4.5 billion years and could shed new light on the origins of the solar system. please.
The sample fell during OSIRIS-REx’s approach to Earth on September 24th.
The outer capsule opened very easily, giving scientists access to 70 grams (2.48 ounces) of asteroid dust, but TAGSAM’s main head, which contains the bulk of the sample, was unable to survive the team’s best efforts. It remained tightly sealed.
Now that it has been published, the team will spend the next few weeks determining the final sample mass they will have access to.
We are now open! We are now open! And it’s ready for close-up. After successfully removing her two final fasteners on January 10, members @astromaterials the team took a photo #Osiris Rex An asteroid sample that uses special technology to achieve ultra-high resolution images. https://t.co/bBrfFT3FoR pic.twitter.com/NTGMVFZCP3
— NASA Solar System (@NASASolarSystem) January 19, 2024
The image above was taken by Erika Blumenfeld, Creative Lead at Advanced Imaging and Visualization of Astromaterials (AIVA), and Joe Aebersold, AIVA Project Lead.
The next step is for the team to remove the round metal collar seen in the image and prepare it for transport. The remaining sample is transferred from the Touch and Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM) head to the pie wedge sample tray.
These trays will be photographed and the samples will be weighed and packaged for storage at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Once the full catalog of Bennu samples is published later this year, scientists from around the world will be invited to submit requests to display or study their samples.
the important thing is, 75 percent A portion of the sample will be saved for future analysis.
“Finally opening the TAGSAM head and providing full access to the returned Bennu samples is a monumental accomplishment that reflects the unwavering dedication and ingenuity of our team.” says astronomer Dante Lauretta January 10 at the University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Institute.
“This success reaffirms the importance of OSIRIS-REx and our commitment to advancing our understanding of the universe. We are committed to sharing these precious samples with the global scientific community and contributing to our discoveries. We eagerly look forward to the next chapter as we continue our journey.”
OSIRIS-REx, now renamed OSIRIS-APEX, is currently flying toward another asteroid, the potentially dangerous celestial body Apophis. That meeting is scheduled to be held in 2029.
Portions of this article were compiled from ScienceAlert’s previous coverage in January 2024.