OSIRIS-REx: The Touchdown of an Asteroid Sample Return Capsule

Attribution: The Goddard Space Flight Center of NASA and the CI Lab are credited for capturing the phase of highest thermal stress that the sample return capsule endures upon entering Earth’s atmosphere.

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In the early hours of Sunday, September 24, the sample capsule from the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will engage with Earth’s atmosphere for the first time since its initial launch in 2016. The capsule is carrying an estimated 250 grams (8.8 ounces) of rocky material that was gathered from the asteroid Bennu in the year 2020. This represents NASA’s inaugural sample from an asteroid and is the largest quantity of such material ever acquired in space.

Capsule’s Controlled Entry to Earth

As the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft nears Earth, it will not decelerate while executing its sample deposit. Upon reaching an altitude of approximately 102,000 kilometers (63,000 miles), roughly one-third of the distance from Earth to the Moon, ground operators will initiate the capsule’s disengagement. The capsule will then be directed into a descent toward Earth’s atmosphere. A mere 20 minutes post-release, the spacecraft will activate its thrusters to divert its course away from Earth, heading towards the asteroid Apophis. For the continuation of its cosmic exploration, the spacecraft will be rebranded as OSIRIS-APEX (OSIRIS-Apophis Explorer).

OSIRIS-REx is NASA’s pioneer in asteroid sample return missions. It was launched in September 2016 to investigate the near-Earth asteroid, Bennu. The mission’s climax is scheduled for September 24, 2023, when a capsule containing Bennu samples will make landfall in the West Desert of Utah. Attribution: NASA

As it travels through space for four hours, the capsule will penetrate Earth’s atmosphere at 10:42 a.m. EDT (8:42 a.m. MDT), at an estimated speed of 44,500 kph (approximately 27,650 mph). The intense compression of Earth’s atmosphere will generate sufficient energy to enshroud the capsule in a ball of extreme heat. A thermal shield will serve to modulate the internal temperature, thus preserving the sample at a temperature akin to the surface of Bennu.

Capsule’s Controlled Landing on Earth

Upon entry into Earth’s atmosphere, the capsule will initially deploy a drogue parachute about two minutes later to stabilize its descent to subsonic speeds. Roughly six minutes after that – when it is approximately 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) over the desert – a main parachute will be deployed to guide the capsule safely to a designated 58-kilometer by 14-kilometer (36-mile by 8.5-mile) zone within a military area. Upon reaching the ground, the capsule’s speed will have reduced to about 18 kph (11 mph).

Merely 13 minutes following its atmospheric entry, the capsule will be back on Earth after a seven-year absence, ready for retrieval by the recovery team.

Approximately 20 minutes before the capsule’s landing, the recovery team will ascend in four helicopters to a position high above Earth’s atmosphere. They will employ thermal imaging technology to track the capsule’s heat signature until it becomes observable through optical devices, thus allowing the team to trace its trajectory towards Earth. The recovery team’s objective is to promptly collect the capsule from its landing spot to prevent any potential contamination from Earth’s natural conditions.

Sample Analysis and Distribution Process

Once the capsule is located and prepared for transport, it will be airlifted via a helicopter longline to an interim clean room located on the military range. There, it will undergo preliminary processing and disassembly in anticipation of its subsequent journey to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Upon arrival, the asteroid sample will be cataloged, preserved, and distributed to scientific communities around the globe for further analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about OSIRIS-REx Sample Return Mission

More about OSIRIS-REx Sample Return Mission

• OSIRIS-REx Mission Overview
• NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
• Near-Earth Asteroids and Bennu
• Sample Return Missions: A Brief History
• Thermal Shield Technology in Spacecraft
• OSIRIS-APEX: The Next Chapter
• NASA’s Johnson Space Center
• Asteroid Apophis Exploration
• Sample Processing and Analysis in Space Missions
• Controlled Landing Procedures for Spacecraft