OSIRIS-REx imaged the capsule’s departure with samples from Bennu

Madrid, October 4 (European Press) –

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has captured the final images of its sample return capsule from the asteroid Bennu, which it ejected on its way to Earth. Where it landed on September 24.

Pictures show The mysterious capsule is shaped like a donutwith a copper brown base and white top, on a black space background.

Image of the OSIRIS-REx sample return capsule It is still attached to the spacecraft’s instrument surface It was captured by the spacecraft’s StowCam camera on September 23 at 14:37 UTC, less than 24 hours before the capsule’s launch. StowCam, a color imaging device, is one of three cameras that make up TAGCAMS (Touch and Go Camera System), It is part of the OSIRIS-REx guidance, navigation and control system.

In addition, a black-and-white sequence of the sample return capsule’s descent toward Earth was captured using TAGCAM’s NavCam 1, captured moments after the capsule was launched from the spacecraft on September 24. The sun appears at the top of the frame, A “thin crescent-shaped terrain” can be seen on the left edge of the image.

OSIRIS-REx NavCams are used for visual navigation of the spacecraft. Navcam images Star fields and features tracked on Bennu to determine the spacecraft’s position during mission operations. This sequence of images has been processed to remove most of the scattered sunlight, highlight more details of the capsule, release the debris cloud, and prevent saturation of the Earth’s crescent. NASA reports.

Meanwhile, the OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft, on a new mission with a new name, It is on its way towards the asteroid Apophis, which it will reach in 2029.