NASA‘s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will be landing in Utah next week, September 24, bringing back samples from the asteroid Bennu.
This marks the end of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft primary 7-year mission.
The mission began in 2016 with the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft launch and involved collecting samples from Bennu in October 2020.
The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will enter Earth’s atmosphere, protected by a heat shield, and reach speeds of up to 27,000 mph before using parachutes to slow down to 10 mph.
Queen guitarist Brian May contributed to the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft mission’s success by creating 3D images to help identify safe landing spots for the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft.
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The OSIRIS-REx team recently performed a drop test in preparation for the real sample return on September 24th.
According to SciTechDaily, The landing location of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is planned to be the Great Salt Lake Desert.
Scientists hope the sample brought by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will provide insights into the formation of the Sun and planets.
SciTechDaily added that weather conditions, particularly winds, will be closely monitored, as they can affect the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft’s landing. A team of scientists and meteorologists will be involved in the recovery of the asteroid Bennu sample brought by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft.
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