NASA Space Research Station (NASA) Spectral Description, Resource Identification, Space Origin, Defense, Recolith Explorer (OSIRIRS-Rex), Samples Collected from Asteroid-Rocks and Dust Pennu has begun a long journey.
*The spacecraft will orbit the sun twice before delivering samples to Earth in September 2023.
*The asteroid Pennu (about 1.9 astronomical units) is located about 200 million miles from Earth.
*On September 8, 2016, the spacecraft OSIRIS-REx was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Base to Asteroid Penn.
*The spacecraft reached Bennu in 2018 and is expected to send a model back to Earth by 2023.
*The sample collection of OSIRIS-REx is called the Touch-and-Go Model Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM) head.
*The stored samples are stored in the sample revenue capsule (SRC).
*Japan was the only country to hold this learning event.
Sample return capsule (SRC) :
*The prototype Sample return capsule (SRC) from Penn separates from the spacecraft and enters the Earth’s atmosphere.
*Capsule Utah Test and Training Range, Western Desert, will parachute to Utah, which will be recovered by scientists.
*The SRC holds between 200 grams and 400 grams of sample, which exceeds the target of at least 60 grams (2 ounces).