Eileen Stansbery, division chief for ARES at Johnson, acknowledged the relentless efforts of the team, stating, “Our engineers and scientists have toiled ceaselessly behind the scenes for months.” The triumphant removal of the fasteners signifies a pivotal moment in the disassembly of the Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM) head, paving the way for a comprehensive exploration of the Bennu sample.
Despite grappling with challenges, the curation team exceeded expectations by gathering 2.48 ounces (70.3 grams) of asteroid material, surpassing NASA’s goal of securing at least 60 grams on Earth. Dr. Nicole Lunning, OSIRIS-REx curator at Johnson, lauded the team’s resilience, noting, “The curation team demonstrated impressive fortitude and accomplished remarkable work in liberating these stubborn fasteners.”
With a price tag of $800 million, the mission aspires to retrieve a sample of an asteroid, particularly one as rich in carbon as Bennu. This celestial body not only provides an opportunity to delve into the chemical origins of life but also offers proximity to Earth’s orbit, facilitating the feasibility of exploration. Jim Garvin, chief scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, emphasized the significance of Bennu’s composition, describing it as “the rarest substance we’ve ever brought to Earth.”
The ongoing disassembly process promises to unveil more of Bennu’s rocky material, with scientists planning to capture ultra-high-resolution images of the sample inside the TAGSAM head. This mission’s success not only advances our comprehension of asteroids but also opens doors to potential revelations about the solar system’s origins.
In the forthcoming weeks, as the disassembly unfolds, scientists anticipate sharing clearer images of the asteroid sample, providing an up-close examination of Bennu’s distinctive features. This milestone stands as a historic triumph for NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission, positioning it as a trailblazer in the exploration of celestial bodies and the enigmatic secrets they harbor.