365NEWSX
365NEWSX
Subscribe

Welcome

Touch-and-go: US spacecraft sampling asteroid for return - Associated Press

Touch-and-go: US spacecraft sampling asteroid for return - Associated Press

Touch-and-go: US spacecraft sampling asteroid for return - Associated Press
Oct 18, 2020 1 min, 0 secs

(AP) — After almost two years circling an ancient asteroid hundreds of millions of miles away, a NASA spacecraft this week will attempt to descend to the treacherous, boulder-packed surface and snatch a handful of rubble.

takes its first crack at collecting asteroid samples for return to Earth, a feat accomplished so far only by Japan.

Brimming with names inspired by Egyptian mythology, the Osiris-Rex mission is looking to bring back at least 2 ounces (60 grams) worth of asteroid Bennu, the biggest otherworldly haul from beyond the moon.

The van-sized spacecraft is aiming for the relatively flat middle of a tennis court-sized crater named Nightingale — a spot comparable to a few parking places here on Earth.

Once it drops out of its half-mile-high (0.75 kilometer-high) orbit around Bennu, the spacecraft will take a deliberate four hours to make it all the way down, to just above the surface.

The solar-orbiting asteroid, which swings by Earth every six years, could take aim at us late in the next century.

The team fell behind and bumped the second and final touch-and-go dress rehearsal for the spacecraft to August.

In either case, the spacecraft would return to orbit around Bennu and try again in January at another location.

Summarized by 365NEWSX ROBOTS

RECENT NEWS

SUBSCRIBE

Get monthly updates and free resources.

CONNECT WITH US

© Copyright 2024 365NEWSX - All RIGHTS RESERVED