[ad_1]
NASA's spacecraft, called OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer), approached one of Earth's most dangerous asteroids – Bennu.
The Guardian reported it.
"After two years of exploration, the NASA spacecraft has reached the old asteroid Bennet," the report says.
The research unit is expected to enter the orbit of the asteroid until December 31st.
It is expected that in 2020 the aircraft will approach the surface of the asteroid and with a three meter manual manipulator robot, will take a soil sample. The probe itself will not descend to Benn's surface.
Scientists expect that they can get at least 60 grams of asteroid surface. Then, in 2023, the spacecraft would send specimens to the Earth by dropping the capsule from the planet's orbit.
Using soil samples, scientists hope to learn about the source of water in the solar system and about the sources of organic molecules at the origin of the life. In addition, researchers will attempt to understand the flight paths of potentially dangerous asteroids, particularly Bennu, because of the possibility of collision with the Earth.
really looks like, these space objects for which the probability of collision with the Earth is quite high. Scientists believe that an asteroid can overtake the Earth in about 150 years.
"If it hits the Earth, Benn will probably create a crater on the planet," the document writes.
The average diameter of the asteroid is 510 meters or slightly more. The asteroid was discovered in 1999 as part of the linear search for asteroids at the Socorro Observatory in the United States.
OSIRIS-REx launched September 8, 2016. From the photos taken by the machine, NASA performed a video rotation using an asteroid.
Photo: NASA Photo / Alamy Stock Photo / Alamy Stock Photo
Source link
