Record-breaking Cosmic Haul
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — In a remarkable achievement, NASA’s Osiris-Rex spacecraft has returned with a cosmic haul twice the original goal. Officials announced on Thursday that the spacecraft collected an astounding 121.6 grams (4.29 ounces) of dust and pebbles from asteroid Bennu, surpassing expectations. This is the largest amount of samples ever collected from beyond the moon, equivalent to just over half a cup.
A Delayed Extraction
Although the spacecraft successfully retrieved the samples last September, it took NASA longer than anticipated to open the sample container. Stuck fasteners posed a challenge, but the persistence of the team paid off. The black, carbon-rich samples, the first ever collected from an asteroid by NASA, are now safely stored at a specialized curation lab at Houston’s Johnson Space Center.
A Lost Opportunity
The $1 billion mission could have yielded an even greater haul if not for a setback. Rocks jammed the lid of the container, causing some samples to float away. Nevertheless, the success of Osiris-Rex in retrieving such a substantial amount is a significant milestone for NASA.
Onward to New Discoveries
While the spacecraft embarks on its next journey to another space rock, unfortunately, no samples will be collected this time. It is set to conduct a flyby without making a stop. Nonetheless, the success of Osiris-Rex’s mission paves the way for future explorations and discoveries.
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