NASA’s ASIRIS-REx asteroid sampling probe to return to Earth in May

Michael Moreau, deputy project manager for OSIRIS-REx, explained that the departure for Earth in May puts the mission in a “sweet spot” when the take-off maneuver will consume the least amount of fuel on board the spacecraft. “Before the spacecraft. ship completely leave the rock, he had studied in the last few years, but could make another flight in early April.

The OSIRIS-REx team is currently investigating whether it is possible to perform another flight, which will give it a way to collect data on how touch and impact sampling has affected Bennu̵

7;s surface. This will also allow the team to assess the condition of the spacecraft’s instruments, including its cameras and spectrometers. OSIRIS-REx is expected to deliver the collected samples in September 2023. As it approaches Earth, the spacecraft will drop the sample container, which will land with parachutes in Utah.