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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums'Literally, We Crushed It': Video Shows NASA Space Probe Touch an Asteroid
So cool I had to share this...
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/21/science/nasa-osiris-rex.html?action=click&module=News&pgtype=Homepage
https://vp.nyt.com/video/2020/10/21/89382_1_21ASTEROID_wg_1080p.mp4
When NASAs OSIRIS-REX spacecraft touched the surface of an asteroid on Tuesday to gather a sample of rocks and dirt, the operation proceeded smoothly, to the glee of the missions operators 200 million miles away on Earth.
But the biggest question remained unanswered: How much of the asteroid did OSIRIS-REX pick up? Did it manage to gather any samples at all?
On Wednesday, the mission managers released a video of the sampling mechanism hitting the surface of the asteroid, within three feet or so of where the spacecraft had been aimed.
I must have watched about a hundred times last night, Dante Lauretta, the principal investigator of the mission, said during a news conference on Wednesday.
The sampling mechanism set down partly on a rock about 8 inches wide. That could have caused a problem if it had prevented the mechanism from pressing up against the surface.
But literally, we crushed it, Dr. Lauretta said. When the spacecraft made contact, that rock appears to fragment and shatter, which is great news.
/snip
Video and more at link.
cbdo2007
(9,213 posts)Silent3
(15,018 posts)Now we're going wreck all of the asteroids too!? Without even asking the asteroidians what they think!?
trackfan
(3,650 posts)when I watched this video
KY_EnviroGuy
(14,483 posts)........... .........
Now if tRump was in charge of NASA, he would preemptively sue the asteroid for damages.