2024-01-15 08:20:25
It took scientists and engineers three months to use a special drill to finally open the sealed chamber containing sand and gravel from the Bennu asteroid.
NASA issued a statement on the 10th, “Our engineers and scientists worked tirelessly for months to design, develop and test new tools to finally overcome this obstacle.”
At last! NASA finally frees lid of asteroid Bennu sample capsule after battling stuck fasteners https://t.co/ELEKqWJyKQ pic.twitter.com/nqVJfZ88S6
— SPACE.com (@SPACEdotcom) January 12, 2024
The team designed a non-magnetic drill bit made of stainless steel, the hardest metal available in the glove box. The tools were tested in a rehearsal room to ensure they could achieve the required torque without damaging the drill bit or contaminating the sample, the statement said.
space.com images
Once the team completed disassembly, scientists were able to weigh the entire sample to determine the total mass of sand collected from Bennu. Imaging experts will also take ultra-high-resolution photos as “unboxing” archival photos before taking away the samples. NASA plans to distribute some asteroid samples to the scientific community in various countries for joint research later this spring.
Schematic diagram.Design Picture
Space.com reported that the sealed capsule landed in the Jewish state of the United States in September last year and completed the first asteroid sample return mission in U.S. history. It was originally expected that 60 grams would be good, but the detector exceeded the task and collected 70.3 grams of sand and gravel samples, 10 grams more than the target.
AP pictures
However, when the scientists put the sealed capsule into the glove box and prepared to open the hatch cover with bare hands, they found that two small gravels (also from the Bennu asteroid) were stuck in the hatch, and they could not be removed without suitable tools in the glove box. If you pry it open without regard for the consequences, these precious samples may be contaminated with earth materials. Therefore, in the past three months, scientists have been trying to find suitable tools to open this “treasure box”.
Humanity’s first commercial “space funeral” has set sail, successfully sending hair samples from three U.S. presidents to space.
AP pictures
According to the “New York Times” report, the Texas-based Cyrus Deis Company officially launched mankind’s first commercial “space burial” service in the early morning of the 8th. On that day, a rocket named “Peregrine Falcon” was launched from Florida. It is empty and carries 62 1/4 to 1/2 inch long titanium capsules containing ashes and hair. The capsules contain not only the remains of deceased celebrities, but also DNA samples from some living people.
Schematic diagram
It is reported that the capsule contains hair samples of former US presidents Washington, John G. Bush, and Eisenhower. In addition, some of the ashes of celebrities such as Roddenberry, the founder of the science fiction TV series “Star Wars”, as well as the main characters Nyota Urhura and Dr. McCoy in the show are also included, excluding deceased celebrities , there are also “living people” who have sent their own DNA samples into space, a total of 300 copies.
AP pictures
This “space burial” was originally scheduled to take place in May 2023, but was postponed for more than eight months due to various reasons. Next, 268 capsules will be sent to deep space about 300 million kilometers away. Charles Chaver, CEO of Selestis, said that this is the first commercial space burial in human history, and he hopes to open a new chapter for this industry. It is worth mentioning that the price of this service is quite expensive, up to 13,000 US dollars (the same below, about 102,000 Hong Kong dollars). In fact, as early as 1998, NASA had already sent the ashes of scientist Eugene to the moon.
AP pictures
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