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As predicted, at around 7:10 p.m. in Chile, the Osiris-Rex probe of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa, for its acronym in English), touched the surface of the asteroid Bennu in the so-called maneuver. Touch and go.
The mission seeks to bring at least 60 grams of material from the celestial body, popularly known as the “asteroid of death.” This, because in 2135 it will pass between the Moon and the Earth, being able to cause a disaster without proportions.
“Landing confirmed” … “Sampling finished”, announced the space agency during the live broadcast of the operations, starting an ovation among the team at the end of this operation of a few seconds, which comes more than four years after the launch of the probe .
Osiris-Rex was launched in September 2016 and, after a long journey, reached the vicinity of the asteroid in December 2018.
Through Twitter, NASA reported the step by step of the maneuvers. At 19:07 hours he realized that he was 25 meters from the surface of the celestial body. “It’s almost time,” they wrote.
Later, at 7:11 p.m. he was only 5 meters away. “There are no dangers in sight,” they detailed, so they continued with the mission. Seconds after that announcement the landing took place, to then move “to a safe distance away from Bennu.”
LANDING!
Sampling in progress 💥#ToBennuAndBack pic.twitter.com/8dj2g8AUxK
– OSIRIS-REx from NASA (@OSIRISREx) October 20, 2020
The recoil burn is complete 🛑✅ Now I am moving to a safe distance away from Bennu. pic.twitter.com/bXk2ufSneS
– OSIRIS-REx from NASA (@OSIRISREx) October 20, 2020
“Preliminary data shows that today’s sample collection event went as planned. More details will come once all the event data is connected to Earth ”, they announced from the agency after completing the maneuvers.
The probe is expected to return to our planet in September 2023.
Preliminary data shows that today’s sample collection event went according to plan. More details will come once all the event data is connected to Earth. Thank you all for following us as we travel #ToBennuAndBack!
Next stop: Earth 2023! 🌍 pic.twitter.com/fP7xdOEeOs
– OSIRIS-REx from NASA (@OSIRISREx) October 20, 2020
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