The world is about to become a lot more exciting! An asteroid sample is making its way toward Earth and is expected to land sometime this year. This sample, known as OSIRIS-REx, is the first of its kind to return from an asteroid, and scientists are excited to see what the sample will tell us about the history of our Solar System.
OSIRIS-REx was launched in September 2016 and has since traveled through space to the Bennu asteroid. Over the past three years, the spacecraft has collected dust samples that will be sent to Earth for analysis. Scientists believe that the samples could provide valuable insights on the formation and evolution of our Solar System.
Once the sample reaches Earth, it will be studied by scientists from all around the world. The asteroid sample will be stored in a NASA cleanroom facility while the scientists work to analyze its contents. They will be looking for evidence of organic material, including possible hints of life from billions of years ago.
The entire process is expected to last several months. After the data is analyzed, the results will be published in scientific journals and discussed among the scientific community.
For the average person, the most exciting part of the journey will be to witness the asteroid sample’s return to Earth. Footage captured by cameras mounted onboard OSIRIS-REx will be shared on social media platforms, giving people the chance to be part of this monumental moment in history.
With the asteroid sample due to arrive sometime this year, it’s not too early to get excited about this amazing mission. The knowledge and insight we will gain from OSIRIS-REx is sure to be tremendous, and its contributions to science will be remembered for years to come.