NASA to probe near-end of asteroid Day of Resurrection
Miriam Espacio / pexels
Expression picture
The Osiris-Rex spacecraft made an important milestone by flying only 680 meters from the surface of the Pino asteroid 1.4 billion miles from Earth.
The US space agency said the June 13 achievement allowed the Osiris-Rex to break the record "for the nearest spacecraft's probe in orbit around a body in the solar system."
NASA / Goddard University of Arizona / Lockheed Martin
The stunning new images resulting from the detailed scanning technique reveal rocks and fossils covering the surface of the distant space object.
NASA / Goddard University of Arizona / Lockheed Martin
"The date of June 12 marked the beginning of the mission's orbital phase B, and the spacecraft began its new orbit about 680 meters above the surface of Pino, which breaks the OSIRIS-Rex record during the orbital phase A of the nearest orbit A small planetary object, close to 1.3 km above the surface of the asteroid. "
NASA / Goddard University of Arizona / Lockheed Martin
The pictures, taken on June 13, show that half of Pino is lit and the other half is in the shadows for the spacecraft.
OSIRIS-Rex was launched from Earth more than two years ago on a mission to study the asteroid, hoping to return it with valuable samples for detailed study in 2023.
The spacecraft will spend the next year in orbit around its target, before landing briefly so it can get close enough to collect a sample of surface rocks.
Pino is said to be a piece of carbon-rich rock that can contain organic matter.
Source: Daily Mail
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