NASA has sent a spacecraft called Osiris-Rex to study the asteroid Bennu, which is 330 million kilometers away from the Earth. Launched in 2016, the spacecraft successfully entered the orbit of the asteroid Bennu in 2018 and traveled smoothly.
It then gradually reduced its orbit and successfully landed on the Bennu Asteroid yesterday.
It is planned to bring rock particles from the asteroid Bennu to Earth for study. Accordingly, the mechanical arms of the Osiris Rex spacecraft began to drill holes in the asteroid and pick up rock fragments. Similarly, it collects dust particles.
Scientists are delighted that Osiris-Lex has successfully landed in Bennu after 4 years of travel. Scientists say the landing event in Bennu occurred about 18.5 minutes earlier than previously reported.
The Osiris-Rex spacecraft is scheduled to complete its mission on the Bennu Asteroid in March next year and return to Earth on September 24, 2023. Similarly, the Hayabusa-2 spacecraft launched on behalf of the Japan Space Research Organization, picked up rock fragments from another asteroid, Liu, last year. The spacecraft is currently approaching Earth.