Asteroid Sample Return Mission – One Year After Launch

The Osiris Rex mission aims to journey to asteroid Bennu, collect samples, and return them to Earth. The mission is part of the New Frontiers program and seeks to understand the origins of the solar system and life. Bennu was chosen based on accessibility, size, and composition. The mission involves detailed mapping and reconnaissance to ensure safe and effective sample collection. The excitement lies in the potential discoveries from the samples, which could provide insights into the early solar system. The mission's launch marks a significant milestone, with the ultimate goal of returning valuable samples to Earth.

What is the primary goal of the Osiris Rex mission?

• To collect samples from asteroid Bennu

• To explore the surface of Mars

• To study the atmosphere of Venus

• To map the surface of the Moon

Why was Bennu chosen as the target asteroid for the mission?

• It is the closest asteroid to Earth

• It has a stable orbit and is rich in carbon

• It has a unique magnetic field

• It is the largest asteroid in the solar system

What is one of the key criteria for selecting Bennu?

• Its gravitational pull

• Its accessibility and orbit

• Its distance from the Sun

• Its color and brightness

What aspect of the mission is considered the most exciting?

• The launch of the spacecraft

• The construction of the spacecraft

• The first images of Bennu

• The return journey to Earth

What is the ultimate goal of the Osiris Rex mission?

• To test new propulsion technologies

• To uncover new stories and information from the samples

• To create a detailed map of the asteroid belt

• To establish a human colony on Bennu