• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
NASA scientists ‘gasped’ as they opened the lid on asteroid canister

Home> News> US News

Published 16:49 1 Oct 2023 GMT+1

NASA scientists ‘gasped’ as they opened the lid on asteroid canister

The capsule contained samples from Bennu

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

NASA scientists ‘gasped’ as they opened up a capsule containing samples from an asteroid called Bennu.

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx - which stands for Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security—Regolith Explorer - capsule was fired off into space back in 2016 to collect material from an asteroid named Bennu.

A capsule that collected almost nine ounces of rocks, dust and space-dirt from the asteroid landed back on Earth on Sunday 24 September.

Scientists hoped that the capsule could help them gain important insights into how life began.

Advert

Professor Dante Lauretta told BBC: "We're trying to piece together our beginnings.

"How did the Earth form and why is it a habitable world? Where did the oceans get their water; where did the air in our atmosphere come from; and most importantly, what is the source of the organic molecules that make up all life on Earth?"

And it seems that the experts were so excited they couldn’t help but ‘gasp’ when they finally got a glimpse of what was inside the capsule.

The lid of the canister was removed inside a specially designed box.
NASA/Robert Markowiz

Advert

According to NASA Astromaterials X account: “Scientists gasped as the lid was lifted from the OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return canister, showing dark powder and sand-sized particles on the inside of the lid and base.”

A statement from NASA explains: “NASA scientists found dark powder and sand-sized particles on the avionics deck of the OSIRIS-REx science canister when the initial lid was removed today.”

The release went on to say that the capsule was sent to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, where curation experts will "perform the intricate disassembly of the Touch and Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM) to get down to the bulk sample within."

The capsule containing the asteroid samples landed on Earth last month.
NASA/Robert Markowiz

Advert

The lid of the capsule was removed inside a specially designed box.

“When the TAGSAM is separated from the canister, it will be inserted in a sealed transfer container to preserve a nitrogen environment for up to about two hours,” the statement continued.

“This container allows enough time for the team to insert the TAGSAM into another unique glovebox. Ultimately, this speeds up the disassembly process. There is a very high level of focus from the team — the sample will be revealed with an amazing amount of precision to accommodate delicate hardware removal so as not to come into contact with the sample inside.”

The sample is set to be revealed to the wider world on 11 October, which will be streamed live on NASA’s website.

Featured Image Credit: Twitter/@Astromaterials

Topics: NASA, Space, US News

Claire Reid
Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at UNILAD who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

7 hours ago
8 hours ago
9 hours ago
  • 7 hours ago

    Former CIA chief gives terrifying prediction on how tensions with Putin will end as Trump moves nuclear submarines

    With 35 years working in one of the world's top security positions, Ralph Goff has shared his opinion on how tensions could end

    News
  • 7 hours ago

    Unbelievable amount Trump's net worth has risen since taking office for second term

    The president made a surprising comeback thanks to crypto

    News
  • 8 hours ago

    Healthy man, 30, dismissed symptom as gym injury before being given devastating cancer diagnosis

    Alex Able discovered he had an extremely rare form of cancer eight months after dismissing a symptom as a simple gym injury

    News
  • 9 hours ago

    Trump moves nuclear submarines 'closer to Russia' after former president issued scathing threat to POTUS

    The Republican called the 'provocative statements' both 'foolish and inflammatory'

    News
  • NASA reveals truth behind asteroid hurtling past Earth at 46,908 mph next week
  • ‘Odd-shaped’ asteroid with ‘strikingly complicated’ structure leaves NASA scientists surprised
  • NASA issues historic update on journey to $10,000,000,000,000,000,000 asteroid
  • Scientists give chilling update on 'city-destroying' asteroid that may hit Earth as NASA makes emergency decision