OSIRIS-REx arrives at the asteroid Bennu
OSIRIS-REx arrives at the asteroid Bennu
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Artistic illustration of OSIRIS-REx approaching the asteroid Bennu. Credit: NASA.
NASA's OSIRIS-REx probe (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer) completed its 2,000-million-kilometer journey to reach the asteroid Bennu. The ship executed a maneuver that took her from traveling to the asteroid to operate around the asteroid.
Now, about 19 km from the surface of Bennu, OSIRIS-REx will begin a preliminary study of the asteroid. The ship will initiate a series of overflights of the north pole, equatorial region and south pole of Bennu, approaching almost 7 km from the surface.
The primary objectives of this study are to refine Bennu's mass and rotation estimates, and to generate a more precise model of its shape. The data will help determine potential sites for subsequent sample collection.
The OSIRIS-REx mission will help scientists figure out how planets form and how life began, as well as improve our understanding of asteroids that could impact Earth, as it is the first mission to study a potentially dangerous asteroid. The asteroids are remnants of the materials that formed the planets and allowed life. Those that are similar to Bennu contain natural resources such as water and metals, which could boost space exploration to obtain these resources.
A complete rotation of Bennu. Images obtained from 80 km away. Credit: Goddard Space Flight Center / University of Arizona.
The mission navigation team will use Bennu's preliminary study to practice the delicate task of navigating around the asteroid. On December 31 the probe will enter orbit around Bennu, which measures 492 meters in diameter, so it will be transformed into the smallest object orbited by a probe.
When OSIRIS-REx begins to orbit Bennu at the end of December, it will approach approximately 1.25 km from its surface. In February 2019, the probe will begin its efforts to create a global map of Bennu to determine the best site for sample collection. After the site is selected, the probe will briefly touch Bennu's surface to extract a sample. OSIRIS-REx is expected to return a sample to Earth in September 2023.
Source: POT
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