27 Sep OSIRIS-REx mission
This article covers “Daily Current Affairs” and the Topic details “OSIRIS-REx mission”. This Topic has relevance in the Science and Technology section of the UPSC CSE exam.
For Prelims:
About the OSIRIS-REx mission?
About Bennu?
For Mains:
GS 3: Science and Technology
Scientific Significance of the mission?
Why in the news:
After covering a vast distance of over 4 billion miles (6.2 billion kilometers) to reach Bennu and subsequently making the return journey, the OSIRIS-REx probe recently released its sample return capsule approximately 63,000 miles (101,000 km) above Earth.
About OSIRIS-REx mission
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission, launched in September 2016, marked a significant undertaking in space exploration. Its primary objectives included:
- Survey and Characterize Bennu: The mission aimed to comprehensively study Bennu, examining aspects such as its composition, shape, topography, and rotation. This data was vital for identifying a safe and scientifically valuable site for sample collection.
- Collect a Sample: OSIRIS-REx was designed to gather a minimum of 60 grams (2.1 ounces) of surface material from Bennu. This sample was expected to provide valuable insights into the composition of the early solar system and potentially shed light on the origins of life on Earth.
- Return the Sample: Following the successful collection of the sample, OSIRIS-REx was tasked with safely transporting it back to Earth. This crucial step would allow scientists to analyze the pristine asteroid material in terrestrial laboratories, advancing our understanding of celestial bodies and their role in the solar system’s history.
Instruments of OSIRIS-REx:
The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft was equipped with an array of scientific instruments and systems designed to accomplish its mission objectives:
- OCAMS (OSIRIS-REx Camera Suite): This suite included three cameras – MapCam, PolyCam, and SamCam. MapCam was used to create surface maps of Bennu, PolyCam captured high-resolution images for navigation and sample site selection, and SamCam documented the sample collection process.
- OTES (OSIRIS-REx Thermal Emission Spectrometer): OTES was responsible for measuring the temperature of Bennu’s surface. This data was crucial in determining the composition of the asteroid.
- OVIRS (OSIRIS-REx Visible and Infrared Spectrometer): OVIRS played a key role in analyzing the spectral properties of Bennu’s surface. It helped identify minerals and organic compounds present on the asteroid.
- OLA (OSIRIS-REx Laser Altimeter): OLA was used to gather topographical information by emitting laser pulses and measuring the time it took for the light to bounce back. This data was used to create detailed 3D maps of Bennu’s surface.
- TAGSAM (Touch-And-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism): TAGSAM was the crucial component responsible for collecting the sample. It used a nitrogen gas burst to stir up surface material, which was then captured in a sample collector for subsequent return to Earth.
Key Mission Milestones:
- Launch: OSIRIS-REx embarked on its journey on September 8, 2016, when it was launched aboard an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
- Asteroid Arrival and Survey: After arriving at Bennu in December 2018, the spacecraft conducted thorough surveys of the asteroid, identifying potential sites for sample collection.
- Sample Collection: On October 20, 2020, OSIRIS-REx achieved a significant milestone by successfully touching down on Bennu’s surface, collecting a sample, and securely stowing it in the Sample Return Capsule (SRC).
- Departure from Bennu: In May 2021, OSIRIS-REx bid farewell to Bennu after spending more than two years studying the asteroid up close.
- Sample Return to Earth: The spacecraft made its way back to Earth and released the SRC, which re-entered Earth’s atmosphere and safely landed in the Utah desert on September 24, 2023.
Scientific Significance:
- Understanding the Early Solar System: The collected sample holds pristine material from the early solar system, providing crucial insights into the conditions and processes that contributed to the formation of planets and the potential emergence of life.
- Asteroid Impact Hazard Assessment: OSIRIS-REx’s study of Bennu’s properties and trajectory has advanced our understanding of asteroid dynamics, helping us assess and mitigate potential impact hazards.
- Resource Utilization: Bennu’s composition includes valuable resources like water and organic molecules, which could be of interest for future space exploration and resource utilization efforts, potentially supporting sustained human presence beyond Earth.
- Origins of Life: The mission’s findings may contribute to our understanding of the delivery of organic molecules and water to Earth, offering insights into the origins of life on our planet and potentially elsewhere in the universe.
About Bennu:
Physical Characteristics:
- Size and Shape: Bennu is a relatively modest asteroid, measuring about 492 meters (approximately 1,614 feet) in diameter. It displays a nearly spherical shape.
- Rotation: Bennu exhibits a relatively swift rotation, completing one full rotation approximately every 4.3 hours, which is relatively rapid for an object of its size.
Orbit and Origin:
- Orbit: Bennu follows an elliptical orbit around the Sun, bringing it close to Earth’s orbit. It is categorized as a near-Earth asteroid (NEA), which means it has the potential for close encounters with our planet.
- Origin: Bennu is considered a primitive asteroid, tracing its origins back to the early stages of the solar system, approximately 4.5 billion years ago. It is specifically classified as a carbonaceous asteroid, indicating its likely abundance of carbon-rich and potentially organic materials.
Scientific Significance:
- Time Capsule: Bennu serves as a remarkable time capsule, preserving materials from the nascent solar system. Through the study of Bennu, scientists can gain valuable insights into the environmental conditions, composition, and processes that characterized the formation of our solar system.
- Water and Organic Compounds: Bennu is believed to house water-bearing minerals and organic compounds, holding significant implications for future space exploration. These resources could potentially be tapped for missions further into space, and the study of Bennu may also contribute to our understanding of the origins of life on Earth and the possibility of life elsewhere in the universe.
Source:https://www.space.com/nasa-osiris-rex-success-recovery-asteroid-sample
Download plutus ias current affairs eng med 27th Sep 2023
Q.1 Which spacecraft mission aimed to study and collect a sample from the asteroid Bennu?
(a) Apollo 11
(b) Voyager 2
(c) OSIRIS-REx
(d) Curiosity
Q.2 What is the primary scientific significance of the OSIRIS-REx mission?
(a) Studying the formation of Earth’s atmosphere
(b) Investigating the composition of Mars’ surface
(c) Understanding the origins of life on Earth
(d) Gaining insights into the early solar system and the formation of planets
Q.3 “Discuss the scientific and practical significance of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission. Explain how missions like OSIRIS-REx contribute to the broader field of space science and the advancement of human knowledge.”
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