News US News

Nasa Osiris-Rex Spacecraft Landed on Asteroid Bennu To Collect Dust

A NASA spacecraft on Tuesday landed on a space rock that researchers believe could hold the building blocks of life.

The craft, OSIRIS-REx, successfully landed on the asteroid named “Bennu” over four years in the wake of being launched from Earth.

The van-sized machine immediately figured out how to satisfy its primary mission of collecting almost two ounces worth of samples before lifting off again, according to CNN.

“After longer than a time of planning, the team is excited at the success of today’s sampling attempt,” Dante Lauretta, the chief examiner of the mission said.

NASA confirmed the touchdown around 6:10 p.m. on Tuesday while live-tweeting and using CGI animation to show the OSIRIS-REx’s decent.

“Even though we have some work ahead of us to determine the outcome of the event — the successful contact, the TAGSAM gas firing, and back-away from Bennu are major accomplishments for the team.”

Bennu, which is more than 200 million miles away from the Earth and as tall as the Empire State Building, has attracted scientific attention due to the presence of carbon-bearing materials — a key building block of life — on the asteroid’s surface.

“The fact that we safely and successfully touched the surface of Bennu, in addition to all the other milestones this mission has already achieved, is a testament to the living spirit of exploration that continues to uncover the secrets of the solar system,” said Lori Glaze, director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA headquarters in Washington.

The OSIRIS-REx is expected to remain orbiting Bennu until 2021 and then return to Earth with its samples in 2023.

Related Posts

Semi Truck Popularity Skyrockets

Semi Truck Popularity Skyrockets

Semi Truck Popularity Skyrockets Semi Truck Popularity Skyrockets. After a difficult two years for the trucking industry, United States Freight Transportation is forecast to increase by 24% in…

Ghost malls Of India

Ghost malls Of India have caused a loss of $524 million

Ghost malls Of India have caused a loss of $524 million   Ghost malls Of India have caused a loss of $524 million. A sum of 57 shopping…

Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser To Extend Public Emergency for 15 Days

Protesters Clash With DC Police On Eve of Trump Rally

Protesters clashed with police in Washington, D.C. Tuesday night as tensions flared on the eve of planned rallies by allies of President Trump to challenge the scheduled certification…

AOC and Squad Allies Named To House Oversight Committee To Influence Joe Biden

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and two of her “Squad” partners were appointed Tuesday to the House oversight committee, giving the administrators a valuable perch to influence President-elect Joe Biden’s…