NASA ’s first asteroid sample return mission , called OSIRIS - REx , is go up a all-important phase of its operation , where it will touchdown on asteroid Bennu ’s aerofoil to scoop up some material . Last month , the mission squad completedone of its planned garb dry run , reach its closest point to Bennu yet .
The second rehearsal and sampling assemblage were previously schedule for June and August respectively but are now slightly defer . Due to the constraint necessary during the Covid-19 pandemic , the missionary work team decided to move the 2nd dry run to August 11 , when OSIRIS - male monarch will attain an unprecedented EL of just 40 meters ( 131 foot ) from the control surface . The sample collection is now schedule for October 20 .
“ In planning the mission , we included full-bodied schedule margin while at Bennu to provide the flexibility to address unexpected challenges , ” Rich Burns , OSIRIS - male monarch labor manager at NASA ’s Goddard Space Flight Center , said in astatement . “ This flexibility has allowed us to adjust to the surprisal that Bennu has have at us . It ’s now time to prioritise the wellness and safety of both squad members and the space vehicle . ”
The sampling event is a Touch - And - Go ( TAG ) collection . OSIRIS - REx will extend a sampling chemical mechanism that will ride out in contact with the control surface of asteroid Bennu for about five sec . A nitrogen charge will be fire to disturb the surface and allow the spacecraft to roll up its sample . It is possible that OSIRIS - REx will pick up enough fabric in one go , but if it does n’t the spacecraft can perform two more TAG events .
“ This mission ’s unbelievable operation so far is a testament to the extraordinary attainment and dedication of the OSIRIS - king team , ” said Dante Lauretta , OSIRIS - male monarch chief investigator at the University of Arizona , Tucson . “ I am surefooted that even in the face of the current challenge , this squad will be successful in collecting our sample from Bennu . ”
OSIRIS - REx is expected to pass on Bennu around mid-2021 and embark on a journeying back to Earth for a payoff date of September 24 , 2023 . When it arrives , it will be the third spacecraft ever to return samples from an asteroid , following the Japanese Hayabusa and Hayabusa-2 workmanship .
