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OSIRIS-REx Spacecraft from NASA continues its journey to Asteroid Bennu after successfully completing his second Deep Space maneuver on June 28th. According to the space agency, the engine was burnt as planned and launched a series of crucial spaceship maneuvers on track for his appointment with Bennu.
The maneuver resulted in a variation of 37 miles per hour of vehicle speed and used 28.2 pounds of fuel
Launched in September 2016, OSIRIS-REx is NASA's first mission to collect samples from An asteroid. The mission is heading towards a nearby asteroid Bennu, which is an exotic black rock rich in carbon.
OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will bring the asteroid sample back to Earth for study and help revolutionize our understanding of asteroids and their origin and composition. The mission is equipped with several scientific instruments to map the asteroid Bennu and to identify sampling locations of a sample. Scientists already know that Bennu is about 1,600 feet wide and possibly formed 4.5 billion years ago. Since it is a remnant of the building blocks of the universe, it may still contain clues about the early history of the solar system.
Researchers are convinced that Bennu contains natural resources such as water, organic matter and metals – essential ingredients for life. While Bennu's composition has remained unchanged since its formation billions of years ago, OSIRIS-REx has been able to find organic materials on its surface and even a primitive microbial life. However, it is highly unlikely to find life in such a difficult environment with little atmosphere and gravitational field.
The next engine combustion of the spacecraft is scheduled for early October, which will slow its speed from approximately 1130 to 320 miles per hour. OSIRIS-Rex will reach its goal on December 3, 2018 and return to Earth in 2023.
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