Science
Mysteries Of Bennu: Dusty Samples From The Solar System’s Most Dangerous Rock Arrive On Earth
(CTN NEWS) – In a momentous achievement that has left scientists and space enthusiasts alike rejoicing, NASA recently succeeded in bringing back pristine samples from the surface of asteroid Bennu.
This remarkable feat was accomplished by the Osiris-Rex spacecraft, which embarked on its mission to collect these samples in 2020.
The significance of this endeavor cannot be overstated, as the retrieved samples are expected to yield invaluable insights into several critical aspects of our understanding of the universe, including the potential threat posed by Bennu, the formation of the Solar System, and perhaps even the origins of life on Earth.
Bennu’s Extraordinary Story
Asteroid Bennu, often referred to as the “most dangerous known rock in the Solar System,” has captured the attention of scientists and astronomers due to its unique characteristics.
This mountainous object, roughly the size of a car, has been a subject of intense scrutiny for several reasons.
First and foremost, Bennu has been classified as a Near-Earth Object (NEO), which means it has a trajectory that brings it into close proximity to our planet.
While the likelihood of a catastrophic collision with Earth is considered minimal, the fact that such an event is not entirely out of the realm of possibility has prompted NASA’s interest.
Understanding Bennu’s orbital dynamics and composition is crucial for assessing any potential threat it may pose in the next 300 years.
Beyond the potential danger, Bennu offers a tantalizing opportunity to peer back in time. This asteroid is thought to be a relic from the early days of our Solar System, with a history that spans billions of years.
As such, it has the potential to provide a wealth of information about the conditions and processes that led to the formation of celestial bodies within our cosmic neighborhood.
The Return of Osiris-Rex
The triumphant return of Osiris-Rex and its precious cargo was a momentous occasion for NASA and the scientific community at large.
After a meticulous journey through space, the spacecraft’s capsule made its descent to Earth’s surface, ultimately landing in the West Desert of Utah state.
The capsule’s reentry into Earth’s atmosphere was a heart-pounding affair, reaching speeds of more than 12 kilometers per second (27,000 miles per hour).
A carefully designed heat shield and parachutes played a crucial role in slowing the descent, ensuring the safe arrival of the samples.
The moment the Osiris-Rex team caught sight of the capsule on long-range cameras was met with jubilation and relief. The successful recovery mission marked a significant milestone in the quest for scientific discovery and understanding.
The capsule, though seemingly small in size, carried a treasure trove of material that promises to unlock the secrets of our Solar System’s past.
The Science Behind the Samples
The samples retrieved from Bennu are not just ordinary space debris; they are pristine remnants from the distant past. Scientists anticipate that these samples will shed light on a myriad of cosmic mysteries.
One of the most exciting aspects of this mission is the potential to study the atoms that make up the crystals within these rocks. This level of detail allows scientists to explore the very building blocks of our universe.
Professor Dante Lauretta, the principal investigator of Osiris-Rex, emphasized the significance of these materials, noting that, “When you’re working at that scale, a single stone is an infinite landscape to explore.
We’ll be working on these materials for decades and decades into the future.” This long-term commitment to studying the samples underscores their immense value to our understanding of the cosmos.
The Importance of Cleanliness
Maintaining the pristine nature of the samples is of paramount importance. The materials collected from Bennu are expected to contain carbon compounds that may have played a role in the formation of life on Earth.
To prevent contamination and ensure the integrity of these precious samples, strict cleanliness protocols were adhered to throughout the recovery process.
Cleanliness was rigorously maintained as recovery teams quickly transported the capsule to a temporary clean room at the Dugway army base. This controlled environment, shielded from Earth’s atmosphere, minimizes the risk of contamination.
Inside this pristine setting, the capsule will be disassembled, with its heat shield and back cover removed while keeping the sample secure within an inner canister.
The Scientific Expectations
What can we expect to learn from these dusty remnants of the Solar System’s past? Dr. Ashley King, a UK scientist who will be part of the initial assessment team, shared his insights.
He anticipates that the samples will consist of rocky material with a soft and fragile texture. These materials are expected to contain clay minerals, which are silicate minerals known to harbor water within their structure.
Additionally, carbon-rich components are expected, including carbonate minerals, chondrules, and calcium-aluminum inclusions—some of the earliest solid materials to form in our Solar System.
NASA has planned a press conference for October 11th to provide the first insights into what has been returned from Bennu.
Small specimens will be distributed to research teams around the world, with the hope of reporting findings across a wide range of studies within two years. However, the mission’s legacy extends far beyond this immediate timeframe.
Lori Glaze, NASA’s director of planetary science, emphasized the enduring significance of the mission, stating,
“One of the most important parts of a sample-return mission is we take 75% of that sample and we’re going to lock it away for future generations, for people who haven’t even been born yet to work in laboratories that don’t exist today, using instrumentation we haven’t even thought of yet.”
The potential for future generations to uncover even more profound revelations about our cosmic origins underscores the lasting impact of this extraordinary mission.
Conclusion
The return of samples from asteroid Bennu represents a triumph of human ingenuity and scientific exploration.
These dusty remnants of the “most dangerous known rock in the Solar System” have the potential to unlock the mysteries of our cosmic origins, help us understand the threats posed by celestial neighbors, and offer insights into the origins of life on Earth.
The meticulous planning, execution, and commitment to maintaining the samples’ pristine nature exemplify the dedication of scientists and researchers to expanding our understanding of the universe.
As we eagerly await the revelations that will emerge from the study of these samples, we can marvel at the remarkable journey that brought them safely back to our planet, ensuring that the quest for knowledge continues to reach new frontiers.
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NEW YORK — To save power, NASA turned off another scientific equipment on its long-running Voyager 2 spacecraft.
NASA Switches Off Instrument On the Spacecraft To Save Power
The space agency announced on Tuesday that 2’s plasma science instrument, meant to study the movement of charged atoms, was turned off in late September to allow the spacecraft to continue exploring for as long as possible, which is estimated to be into the 2030s.
NASA turned off a suite of instruments on Voyager 2 and its twin, Voyager 1, after exploring the gas giant planets in the 1980s. Both are currently in interstellar space or the region between stars. The plasma instrument on Voyager 1 stopped working years ago and was finally shut off in 2007.
The remaining four instruments on 2 will continue to collect data on magnetic fields and particles. Its mission is to investigate the regions of space beyond the sun’s protective sphere.
NASA Switches Off Instrument On Voyager 2 Spacecraft To Save Power
It launched in 1977, is the only spacecraft to have visited Uranus and Neptune. It is now more than 12 billion miles (19.31 billion kilometers) from Earth. 1 is more than 15 billion miles (24.14 billion kilometers) beyond Earth.
SOURCE | AP
MIAMI — Hurricane Kirk’s waves could generate life-threatening surf and rip current conditions this weekend throughout the United States East Coast, as well as in Bermuda, the Greater Antilles, and the Bahamas, according to forecasters.
Kirk was a Category 3 hurricane in the middle Atlantic Ocean that might grow further but was predicted to stay away from land, according to the Miami-based National Hurricane Center on Thursday.
Hurricane Kirk Could Cause Dangerous Surf Conditions Along The US East Coast
Kirk-generated swells were forecast to reach parts of the Leeward Islands on Friday, Bermuda and the Greater Antilles on Saturday, and the East Coast and the Bahamas on Sunday, according to the center.
No coastal watches or warnings were in effect. The major storm was around 1,130 miles (1,820 kilometers) east of the Leeward Islands, with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h).
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Leslie formed late Wednesday in the eastern Atlantic and is expected to strengthen into a hurricane in the following days, forecasters said. It was also not considered a threat to the land.
Hurricane Kirk Could Cause Dangerous Surf Conditions Along The US East Coast
The storm was about 540 miles (870 kilometers) southwest of Cabo Verde’s southernmost tip, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 kph), according to the center.
The storms raged in the Atlantic as rescuers in the United States Southeast sought for missing persons after Hurricane Helene struck last week, leaving a trail of death and devastation.
SOURCE | AP
NASA has announced astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are safely in orbit on the first crewed flight test of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft heading for the International Space Station.
As part of NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test, the astronauts launched a ULA (United Launch Alliance) Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 10:52 a.m. EDT Wednesday for an end-to-end test of the Starliner system.
“Two brave NASA astronauts are well on their way to this historic first test flight of a brand-new spacecraft,” stated NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “Boeing’s Starliner represents a new era of American exploration. Human spaceflight is a risky endeavor, but it is worth it. It is an exciting time for NASA, our commercial partners, and the future of space exploration. “Go Starliner, Butch, and Suni!”
The flight test is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program and will help validate the transportation system, launch pad, rocket, spacecraft, in-orbit operations capabilities, and return to Earth with astronauts aboard as the agency prepares to certify Starliner for rotational missions to the space station. Starliner has already completed two uncrewed orbital missions, including a test to and from the space station, as well as a pad abort demonstration.
Boeing Starliner Makes Orbit
“With Starliner’s launch, separation from the rocket, and arrival in orbit, Boeing’s Crew Flight Test is right on track,” said Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager for Boeing’s Commercial Crew Program. “Everyone is focused on giving Suni and Butch a safe, comfortable, ride and performing a successful test mission from start to finish.”
Boeing’s mission control center in Houston will supervise a sequence of autonomous spacecraft maneuvers while Starliner is in flight. NASA teams will supervise space station activities from the Mission Control Center at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
“Flying crew on Starliner represents over a decade of work by the Commercial Crew Program and our partners at Boeing and ULA,” said Steve Stich, Commercial Crew Program Manager at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “For many of us, this is a career-defining occasion, ushering in a new crew transportation capacity for our agency and our country. We will take it one step at a time, putting Starliner through its paces and remaining watchful until Butch and Suni safely land back on Earth at the end of this test journey.”
At about 12:15 p.m., Starliner will dock autonomously to the forward-facing port of the station’s Harmony module. Thursday, June 6, and will remain at the orbital laboratory for almost a week.
Wilmore and Williams will help ensure that the spacecraft is functioning properly by testing the environmental control system, the displays and control system, and moving the thrusters, among other things, during flight.
Wilmore and Williams will join the Expedition 71 crew, which includes NASA astronauts Michael Barratt, Matt Dominick, Tracy C. Dyson, and Jeanette Epps, as well as Roscosmos cosmonauts Nikolai Chub, Alexander Grebenkin, and Oleg Kononenko.
NASA’s arrival and in-flight event coverage is as follows (all times Eastern and subject to change depending on real-time operations):
NASA Television channels will continue to broadcast the Starliner’s mission.
Thursday, June 6
9:30 a.m. – Arrival coverage begins on NASA+, the NASA app, and YouTube, and continues on NASA Television and the agency’s website.
12:15 p.m. – Targeted docking
2 p.m. – Hatch opening
2:20 p.m. – Welcome remarks
3:30 p.m. – Post-docking news conference at NASA Johnson with the following participants:
- NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free
- Steve Stich, manager, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program
- Jeff Arend, manager for systems engineering and integration, NASA’s International Space Station Office
- Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager, Commercial Crew Program, Boeing
Coverage of the post-docking news conference will air live on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website.
To attend the post-docking briefing, U.S. media must contact the NASA Johnson newsroom at: [email protected] or 281-483-5111 by 1 p.m. Thursday, June 6. To join by phone, media must contact the NASA Johnson newsroom by 3 p.m. Thursday, June 6.
5:50 p.m. – NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, Associate Administrator Jim Free, Associate Administrator for Space Operations Ken Bowersox, and Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche will speak with Wilmore and Williams about their launch aboard the Starliner spacecraft.
Coverage of the Earth to space call will air live on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website.
Saturday, June 8
8:50 a.m. – NASA astronauts Wilmore and Williams will provide a tour of Starliner.
Coverage of the in-orbit event will stream live on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website.
Monday, June 10
11 a.m. – Williams will speak to students from Sunita L. Williams Elementary School in Needham, Massachusetts, in an event aboard the space station.
Coverage of the Earth to space call will air live on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website.
Tuesday, June 11
3:15 p.m. – Wilmore will speak to students from Tennessee Tech University in an event aboard the space station.
Coverage of the Earth to space call will air live on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website.
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