Scientists just opened the lid of NASA's asteroid sample box

Enlarge / THE lid East open on THE OSIRIS-REx sample back box, developer A tempting ring of dust out THE main sample collection bedroom. Dante Laurette

Dante Laurette, A planetary scientist has THE University of Arizona, has expected almost 20 years has get her hands on Perfect specimens Since A asteroid, which he said East A key has unlocking answers has mysteries about THE origin of life on Earth. On Tuesday, he obtained her First of all look has dust cereals income by from NASA OSIRIS-REx mission.

Because they to want has be Of course, members of THE OSIRIS-REx science team will to wipe a few of THE dust Since THE asteroid sample box And send he has A laboratory For analysis. But There is little question THE dust cereals visible immediately After scientists open THE lid has THE box are Since asteroid Bennu, Or THE OSIRIS-REx spatialship capture rocks during A touch and go landing In 2020.

THE spatialship completed It is round trip journey has asteroid Bennu with A near the target landing of It is sample back capsule Sunday Morning In Utah. THE OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer) mothership released THE capsule has dive In THE atmosphere while he licensed It is thrusters has maneuver on A path has head back In THE Solar System For A extended assignment has visit another asteroid.

Ground teams quickly recovered THE capsule And shipped he Since Utah has from NASA Johnson Space Center In Houston on Monday on A WE Air Force cargo plane. He SO journey has A especially built super clean curation ease has THE space center, which East Also House has THE collection of Moon rocks brought back on from NASA Apollo missions more that 50 years there is.

THE sample box was SO put inside A glove box has allow scientists has work with THE material through gloved ports. SO came THE moment Tuesday When scientists open THE lid.

"We open up THE box Today, And We did see that there East a few black like dust material It is visible," Laurette said Tuesday. "Were hoping It is Since Bennu. We to wait for that GOOD be collection A portion of that tomorrow Morning, And How's it going go RIGHT In laboratories."

"This East OUR First of all preview of What We could to have," said Laurette, THE OSIRIS-REx missions main investigator. "There is GOOD indication that We could to have sample."

Advice of THE iceberg

When THE spatialship deceased THE roughly 1,600 feet wide (500 meters) asteroid Bennu In 2020, engineers estimated THE probe had gathered around 250 grams, Or 8.8 ounces, of specimens Since Bennu porous surface. THE spatialship sampled THE asteroid by extension A robotics arm out In in front of he, SO basically pogo disabled THE surface, only contact Bennu For A little seconds. When he touch THE asteroid, THE spatialship released A bursting of gas has funnel coward rocks In A collection bedroom shaped as A air filtered on THE END of THE robot arm. This device East called THE Touch and go Sample Acquisition Mechanism, Or TAGSAM.

Scientists discovered THE collection bedroom door was stuck open with bigger rocky material, with a few fragments of rock leak out In space, SO they decided has quickly tidy THE sampling device inside THE back capsule has avoid losing more material. That directed a few scientists on THE OSIRIS-REx team has wonder if THE spatialship could come back has Earth with even more that THE 250 grams estimate, which was four times THE minimum requirement For assignment success.

Researchers likely won't know For Of course how a lot material OSIRIS-REx brought House until following month. That will require THE laboratory team In Houston has withdraw THE TAGSAM sampling mechanism Since It is detention inside THE box, which protected he For THE journey back has Earth as A nested doll. SO they will open up THE device And hopefully find bigger parts of rock. All of This should arrive In THE following couple of weeks.

But THE First of all preview has THE inside of THE sample box looks promising.