美探测器从小行星采样
NASA snags sample of asteroid NASA said its OSIRIS-REx mission touched down on asteroid Bennu on Tuesday and collected a sample from the asteroid's surface. It is the first US mission to retrieve a pristine sample of an asteroid and return it to Earth for further study. The spacecraft performed the entire sequence of approaching the asteroid and collecting the sample autonomously, which lasted about 4.5 hours. The sample is scheduled to be returned to Earth in September 2023. OSIRIS-REx was launched on Sept 8, 2016 and arrived at Bennu on Dec 3, 2018. The samples from Bennu could help scientists understand not only more about asteroids that could impact Earth but also about how planets formed and life began. |