On Sunday, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft successfully landed a capsule the size of a car tire on a bombing range in Utah. This capsule contained a sample from the intriguing and potentially hazardous asteroid Bennu, marking an important milestone for scientific exploration.
After being released by the spacecraft earlier, the capsule gracefully parachuted onto the carefully selected landing site, the Utah Test and Training Range. A well-rehearsed effort by recovery teams, involving four helicopters, ensured the quick retrieval of the capsule in order to minimize the risk of contamination.
To everyone’s delight, the recovery teams found the capsule intact on the desert floor, positioned perfectly upright as if it had made an effort to present itself flawlessly. Using a helicopter, the capsule was secured on a 100-foot line and transported to a specially prepared “clean room” located in a military hangar. From here, it will be flown to the NASA Johnson Space Center in Texas for extensive scientific analysis and study.
Before releasing the capsule, mission managers thoroughly assessed the trajectory of the spacecraft and ultimately decided to proceed. The spacecraft spent four hours approaching Earth before entering the atmosphere at an astonishing speed of 27,000 miles per hour. Utilizing thrusters, the parent spacecraft adjusted its course to avoid landing in Utah and instead continue towards its next target, the asteroid Apophis, with an anticipated encounter in 2029.
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
