OSIRIS-REx is NASA's first asteroid sample return.
After successfully
collecting a sample from the surface of asteroid Bennu on October 20th, 2020,
the spacecraft has been on a 1.2 billion mile cruise back to Earth.
14 days out from sample return. the spacecraft
will target the Utah Test and Training Range on Earth.
And then on September 24th, at a distance of 63,000 miles from Earth.
The spacecraft will release its sample return capsule or SRC.
The team has definied a “hoop” in space, like hitting a halfcourt shot
on a basketball court, that the spacecraft needs to target
if we want to land at the Utah Test and Training Range.
Today, we challenged Deni Avdija and G-Wiz of the Washington Wizards
to successfully score a halfcourt shot.
Much like how OSIRIS-REx will be attempting to hit within
its target hoop in space.
While seeking a
halfcourt shot and landing a sample return capsule are both challenging -
with practice, patience and planning the teams expect
success.
Looks good.
The OSIRIS-REx team has prepared extensively for sample return
and predicts greater than a 99% chance
of hitting its target after the capsule is retrieved.
The samples from asteroid
Bennu will be taken to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas,
and will be curated, distributed and studied for decades to come.