The space apparatus NASA, OSIRIS-REX, is approaching the ground, taking samples from an asteroid that poses a potential threat to our planet. OSIRIS-REx was launched in September 2016 and its mission is to gather particles from asteroid Benn, a collection of cosmic fragments that date back approximately 4.5 billion years.
Asteroid Benn has a probability of 1 in 1,750 of colliding with Earth by the end of the 22nd century, although no definitive predictions have been made.
The samples are expected to land successfully at the Dugway Proving Ground defense department landfill in Utah, located approximately 80 miles west of Salt Lake City, on September 24.
Dante Lauretta, the lead researcher of OSIRIS-REx from the University of Arizona, stated that the team has undergone extensive training to simulate various scenarios for the spacecraft’s return. “In high-pressure situations, it is crucial to act automatically,” he added.
Estimates indicate that the device has collected anywhere between 149 to 350 grams of samples from Benn, surpassing the mission’s requirement of 60 grams.
Lauretta shared his 20-year experience working on the OSIRIS-REx project, stating, “When I first started, I was young and had no idea about the cost of a cosmic mission.” He believes the chances of successfully completing the mission are 99%.
After analyzing the asteroid samples brought back, the team will continue working with the device. In 2029, OSIRIS-REx, under its new name Osiris-Apophis Explorer, will embark on a mission to explore another asteroid named Apophis.