2024-01-16 13:13:58
NASA scientists celebrated that they were finally able to open the lid of the asteroid Bennu sample capsule, several months following it arrived on Earth.
NASA engineers were able to remove two metal fasteners from the TAGSAM robotic arm that were keeping the lid closed and trapping the precious cargo inside.
The sample capsule’s lid is closed with 35 screws, according to NASA, but two of them are difficult to open.
The two screws keeping the lid closed were stuck, trapping the very special space dust inside. Now scientists have been able to dismantle TAGSAM’s head, so the full analysis of the 250g sample can begin in search of clues regarding the history of the solar system.
In September of last year, the spacecraft finally returned to Earth, marking the end of the $1.16 billion mission, one of NASA’s most ambitious missions ever.
According to Eileen Stansbury, head of the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Division (ARES) at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, new tools had to be designed to remove the last screws in the capsule’s lid and open it.
“Our engineers and scientists have worked tirelessly behind the scenes for months to not only process the more than 70g of material we had previously access to, but also to design, develop and test new tools that have allowed us to overcome this hurdle,” Stansbury said. “The innovation and dedication of this team has been amazing.” “We are all excited to see the remaining treasure that OSIRIS-REx holds.”
Since the sample returned to Earth in September, NASA has only been able to open the top lid of the capsule, revealing strange black dust. However, the rock sample from Bennu was hidden in another smaller section inside, which was recently opened.
The precious payload is estimated at 250g of rocky material, but NASA believes this will be enough to reveal secrets regarding the asteroid’s formation and “help us better understand the types of asteroids that might threaten Earth.” (Russia Today)
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