A NASA capsule has taken some samples from an asteroid near Earth. Earlier, a capsule from Japan also brought samples of the asteroid. But the amount of samples collected by NASA capsule is much higher than in Japan.
On Sunday, ‘Osiris-Rex’ returned to Earth with gravel and stones from the asteroid ‘Bennu’ after landing in the Utah Desert of America. It contained 250 grams of samples collected from the asteroid. This Bennu asteroid could hit Earth in the next century. So, NASA’s achievement is very significant for human civilization.
When it returned to Earth, the capsule had a speed of 27,650 miles per hour. However, it decreased significantly during the landing. Seven years ago, the capsule sailed on a spacecraft called Osiris-Rex for Bennu, an asteroid close to Earth. The capsule traveled nearly a billion miles before returning to Earth.
It is also expected that we will learn about how the earth has become habitable for humans. The preliminary research report of Bennu sample is likely to be published on October 11. The samples will be preserved for further research.
Osiris-Rex immediately launched another mission after safely landing the capsule carrying Bennu’s sample. The spacecraft is now heading for the asteroid Apophis. The mission is expected to take about six years to complete.