Bennu

Statement of the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
Johnson Space Center, OLA, Canadian Space Agency, OSIRIS-REx, Life, OSIRIS, NASA, Spacecraft, Water, Communications satellite, QC, Bennu

Earlier today, NASA offered a first look at the Bennu sample from the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Key Points: 
  • Earlier today, NASA offered a first look at the Bennu sample from the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
  • "The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft recently delivered to Earth what is believed to be a remnant of our solar system's formation.
  • As part of the OSIRIS-REx mission, Canadian instrument OLA scanned and mapped asteroid Bennu in more detail than any other celestial object.
  • Data from OLA helped the mission experts select the best site from which to collect the sample.

NASA's Bennu Asteroid Sample Contains Carbon, Water

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
Multimedia, OSIRIS-REx, Security, Dust, Goddard Space Flight Center, Safety, Carbon, University, Canadian Space Agency, Mass spectral interpretation, JAXA, X-ray crystallography, Collection, Solar System, Johnson Space Center, Science Mission Directorate, New Frontiers program, KinetX, Lockheed Martin Space, CSA, OSIRIS, Spacecraft, Marshall Space Flight Center, Asteroid, Science, News, Life, Lauretta, University of Arizona, NASA, NASA Headquarters, Research, Water, Communications satellite, Palladium, Bennu

"The OSIRIS-REx sample is the biggest carbon-rich asteroid sample ever delivered to Earth and will help scientists investigate the origins of life on our own planet for generations to come," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.

Key Points: 
  • "The OSIRIS-REx sample is the biggest carbon-rich asteroid sample ever delivered to Earth and will help scientists investigate the origins of life on our own planet for generations to come," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.
  • The sample has made it back to Earth, but there is still so much science to come – science like we've never seen before."
  • Although more work is needed to understand the nature of the carbon compounds found, the initial discovery bodes well for future analyses of the asteroid sample.
  • The goal of the OSIRIS-REx sample collection was 60 grams of asteroid material.

This Week in Tech News: 10 Stories You Need to See

Retrieved on: 
Friday, September 29, 2023
Learning, Small business, PR Newswire, NASA, Life, Bennu, Water

NEW YORK, Sept. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists covering the business technology industry stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a roundup of stories from the week that shouldn't be missed.

Key Points: 
  • A roundup of the week's most newsworthy technology industry press releases from PR Newswire, including Norton's new cybersecurity solution for small businesses.
  • NEW YORK, Sept. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire.
  • To help journalists covering the business technology industry stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a roundup of stories from the week that shouldn't be missed.
  • The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story.

OSIRIS-REx Sample Capsule Safely Touches Down with NASA's First-Ever Asteroid Sample

Retrieved on: 
Sunday, September 24, 2023
Lockheed Martin, Solar System, University, OSIRIS-REx, Life, Utah Test and Training Range, TAGSAM, Asteroid, Spacecraft, Goddard Space Flight Center, Martin, Lockheed, History, OSIRIS-APEX, Johnson Space Center, Soil, NASA, OSIRIS, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Mars sample-return mission, NYSE, LMT, Communications satellite, Palladium, Bennu

UTAH TEST AND TRAINING RANGE, Utah, Sept. 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Following a rapid and red-hot descent through Earth's atmosphere, NASA's OSIRIS-REx sample return capsule touched down in the desert at 8:52 a.m. MT today, returning NASA's first-ever asteroid sample. The capsule is estimated to hold about a cup of material from Bennu, a carbon-rich asteroid. Scientists hope it will teach us more about the origin of organics that led to life on Earth and help us better understand planet formation.

Key Points: 
  • The capsule is estimated to hold about a cup of material from Bennu, a carbon-rich asteroid.
  • Just prior to landing, the capsule entered the atmosphere traveling more than 27,000 mph.
  • "This particular sample return is monumental – scientists are about to open a time capsule with some of the earliest history of our solar system inside."
  • Extracting a sample from the asteroid by "tagging" it on Oct. 20, 2020.

NASA's First Asteroid Sample Has Landed, Now Secure in Clean Room

Retrieved on: 
Sunday, September 24, 2023
Radar, Learning, Human, Johnson Space Center, KinetX, MDT, Altitude, Solar System, University, OSIRIS-REx, Life, Atmosphere, CSA, Canadian Space Agency, Defense, Utah Test and Training Range, Goddard Space Flight Center, Asteroid, Spacecraft, Marshall Space Flight Center, Multimedia, History, EDT, JAXA, Science, Butterfly, Security, DART, Mass spectral interpretation, New Frontiers program, NASA, Collection, OSIRIS, Water, Department of Defense Manned Space Flight Support Office, Dust, Lockheed Martin Space, University of Arizona, Science Mission Directorate, Nitrogen, Lidar, Safety, Communications satellite, Bennu, Moon, Psyche

Getting the sample under a "nitrogen purge," as scientists call it, was one of the OSIRIS-REx team's most critical tasks today.

Key Points: 
  • Getting the sample under a "nitrogen purge," as scientists call it, was one of the OSIRIS-REx team's most critical tasks today.
  • "Congratulations to the OSIRIS-REx team on a picture-perfect mission – the first American asteroid sample return in history – which will deepen our understanding of the origin of our solar system and its formation.
  • "With OSIRIS-REx, Psyche launch in a couple of weeks, DART's one year anniversary, and Lucy's first asteroid approach in November, Asteroid Autumn is in full swing.
  • To learn more about the asteroid sample recovery mission visit:
    View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasas-first-asteroid-sample-has...

OSIRIS-REx Lands in Your Post Office

Retrieved on: 
Friday, September 22, 2023
The Postal Service, Utah Test and Training Range, Perseverance, Pinterest, Mineral, Collection, United States Postal Service, Solar System, Tennis, Arm, OSIRIS-REx, Newsroom, University, United States Department of Defense, Post, Oxygen, Clark Planetarium, Asteroid, Spacecraft, Lockheed, SALT, Sale, North Carolina State University, Thought, United, Post office, Mass spectral interpretation, USPS, Rex, NASA, OSIRIS, Headquarters, Engineering, Water, Dust, Infant, Mail, News, Bennu, Antarctica, Amazon

Opportunities from OSIRIS-REx have changed my life, and remembering that I am a known part of that baffles me sometimes."

Key Points: 
  • Opportunities from OSIRIS-REx have changed my life, and remembering that I am a known part of that baffles me sometimes."
  • "We are exceptionally pleased that the Postal Service will commemorate this journey of exploration and help NASA share the excitement of discovery with the public."
  • OSIRIS-REx is an acronym for the mission's goals: Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer.
  • Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps , by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at select Post Office locations nationwide.

OKSI Set to Fly SAMI to Observe OSIRIS-REx Re-entry, Following Artemis I and SpaceX Missions

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, August 22, 2023
Space Launch System, SAMI, Partnership, Langley Research Center, OSIRIS-REx, Bennu, Infrared, Utah Test and Training Range, Gulf Stream, United States Department of Defense, Asteroid, Spacecraft, Security, Mass spectral interpretation, Acquisition, MWIR, Planet, NASA, SLS, OSIRIS, Artemis, Observation, SpaceX, Air Warrior (U.S. Army), Starship, Filter, Communications satellite, Mars

OKSI is advancing the frontiers of space exploration, embarking on yet another collaboration with NASA & the SCIFLI team.

Key Points: 
  • OKSI is advancing the frontiers of space exploration, embarking on yet another collaboration with NASA & the SCIFLI team.
  • Previously, SAMI operated from a nose-mounted spherical gimbal on NASA's WB-57 aircraft to observe the Artemis I Moon Mission launch and SpaceX's Starship's first launch attempt.
  • Since the Artemis I and Starship missions, SAMI gained a UV-Visible imaging spectrometer to enhance its capabilities.
  • The integration of SAMI onto their Gulfstreams, along with tracking systems and optical-quality windows has opened doors to more flexible and responsive SAMI support for future NASA missions.

U.S. Postal Service to Issue OSIRIS-REx Stamp

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, August 17, 2023
The Postal Service, Utah Test and Training Range, Pinterest, Collection, United States Postal Service, Solar System, Arm, Newsroom, OSIRIS-REx, Bennu, United States Department of Defense, Post, Asteroid, Spacecraft, Sale, United, Post office, USPS, NASA, Map, Dust, Mail, Amazon

Postal Service celebrates NASA's seven-year OSIRIS-REx mission to study and map the asteroid Bennu and return a sample of the surface to Earth in September 2023.

Key Points: 
  • Postal Service celebrates NASA's seven-year OSIRIS-REx mission to study and map the asteroid Bennu and return a sample of the surface to Earth in September 2023.
  • The OSIRIS-REx stamp is being issued as a Forever stamp, which will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce rate.
  • The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
  • For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com .

Uracil found in Ryugu samples

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Comparison, Amine, Life, Bennu, Hayabusa2, Nature Communications, Asteroid, Spacecraft, Temperature, RNA, Dicarboxylic acid, Associate, Formaldehyde, Vitamin, Vitamin B3, Capsule, Protein, Niacin, Metabolism, NASA, Hydrogen cyanide, OSIRIS, Ammonia, Hokkaido University, Uracil, Phosphorus, Sulfur, 162173 Ryugu, Earth

SAPPORO, Japan, March 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers have analyzed samples of asteroid Ryugu collected by the Japanese Space Agency's Hayabusa2 spacecraft and found uracil—one of the informational units that make up RNA, the molecules that contain the instructions for how to build and operate living organisms. Nicotinic acid, also known as Vitamin B3 or niacin, which is an important cofactor for metabolism in living organisms, was also detected in the same samples.

Key Points: 
  • "Since the Hayabusa2 spacecraft collected two samples directly from asteroid Ryugu and delivered them to Earth in sealed capsules, contamination can be ruled out."
  • The team hypothesizes that the difference in concentrations in the two samples, collected from different locations on Ryugu, is likely due to the exposure to the extreme environments of space.
  • While these were not detected in the Ryugu samples, they are known to be present in cometary ice—and Ryugu could have originated as a comet or another parent body which had been present in low temperature environments.
  • "The discovery of uracil in the samples from Ryugu lends strength to current theories regarding the source of nucleobases in the early Earth," Oba concludes.

Uracil found in Ryugu samples

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Comparison, Amine, Life, Bennu, Hayabusa2, Nature Communications, Asteroid, Spacecraft, Temperature, RNA, Dicarboxylic acid, Associate, Formaldehyde, Vitamin, Vitamin B3, Capsule, Protein, Niacin, Metabolism, NASA, Hydrogen cyanide, OSIRIS, Ammonia, Hokkaido University, Uracil, Phosphorus, Sulfur, 162173 Ryugu, Earth

SAPPORO, Japan, March 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers have analyzed samples of asteroid Ryugu collected by the Japanese Space Agency's Hayabusa2 spacecraft and found uracil—one of the informational units that make up RNA, the molecules that contain the instructions for how to build and operate living organisms. Nicotinic acid, also known as Vitamin B3 or niacin, which is an important cofactor for metabolism in living organisms, was also detected in the same samples.

Key Points: 
  • "Since the Hayabusa2 spacecraft collected two samples directly from asteroid Ryugu and delivered them to Earth in sealed capsules, contamination can be ruled out."
  • The team hypothesizes that the difference in concentrations in the two samples, collected from different locations on Ryugu, is likely due to the exposure to the extreme environments of space.
  • While these were not detected in the Ryugu samples, they are known to be present in cometary ice—and Ryugu could have originated as a comet or another parent body which had been present in low temperature environments.
  • "The discovery of uracil in the samples from Ryugu lends strength to current theories regarding the source of nucleobases in the early Earth," Oba concludes.