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Asteroid Mission

All articles tagged with #asteroid mission

space-exploration1 year ago

NASA's OSIRIS-APEX Survives Unexpectedly Close Sun Encounter

NASA's OSIRIS-APEX probe successfully survived its closest approach to the sun on January 2, emerging unscathed and confirming the effectiveness of its protective measures. Originally known as OSIRIS-REx, the probe is now on an extended mission to the asteroid Apophis, requiring several close passes to the sun. The spacecraft's systems and onboard camera performed well despite the intense solar radiation, with the next close encounter scheduled for September 1.

via Space.com|
#asteroid-mission#nasa#osiris-apex
space-exploration2 years ago

NASA's Psyche Mission Launch Delayed by Thruster Issue

NASA has delayed the launch of its Psyche asteroid mission by a week due to an issue with the spacecraft's thrusters. The delay is necessary to complete verifications of the parameters used to control the nitrogen cold gas thrusters, which are essential for controlling the spacecraft's momentum and orientation. The launch is now scheduled for October 12, and the spacecraft will arrive at the metal-rich asteroid Psyche in August 2029.

via Gizmodo|
#asteroid-mission#launch-delay#nasa
space2 years ago

NASA's Psyche launch delayed by spacecraft issue, rescheduled for next week

NASA has postponed the launch of its Psyche spacecraft by a week to update the configuration of thrusters on the spacecraft. The delay will allow engineers to verify parameters for the nitrogen cold-gas thrusters, which will operate at warmer temperatures than previously predicted. The launch is now scheduled for October 12, and the spacecraft will study the structure and composition of the main belt asteroid Psyche, the first solar system body made primarily of metal to be visited by a spacecraft.

via SpaceNews|
#asteroid-mission#launch-delay#nasa
space2 years ago

Countdown Begins: SpaceX's Psyche Mission to Asteroid Set for Launch

SpaceX is set to launch NASA's Psyche spacecraft on October 5, marking the first interplanetary mission for the Falcon Heavy rocket. The launch window extends until October 25, but a government shutdown on October 1 could potentially delay the launch. Psyche will travel to the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter to study a metallic object believed to be the exposed core of a protoplanet. The Falcon Heavy rocket, the second-most powerful in operation, has previously launched seven times but has not yet carried a NASA payload.

via Space.com|
#asteroid-mission#falcon-heavy-rocket#nasa
science-and-astronomy2 years ago

NASA's Epic Asteroid Mission: Tears, Triumph, and a Historic Sample Return

The principal investigator of NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission, Dante Lauretta, experienced a mix of anxiety and relief as he awaited the successful recovery of the mission's sample return capsule containing samples of asteroid Bennu. Lauretta described the emotional moment when he received confirmation that the capsule had landed safely, stating that tears streamed down his face as he realized the mission had been a success. The samples will now be studied to gain insights into the chemical history of our solar system and potentially shed light on the origins of life on Earth. The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will continue its scientific mission by embarking on a two-year journey to study the near-Earth asteroid Apophis.

via Space.com|
#asteroid-mission#emotional-moment#nasa
space-exploration2 years ago

ESA Successfully Assembles Hera Asteroid Spacecraft for Groundbreaking Mission

The European Space Agency's Hera asteroid mission, designed for planetary defense, has reached a significant milestone as its two halves, the Core Module and Propulsion Module, have been successfully mated together at OHB Bremen in Germany. The spacecraft will now undergo full-scale testing to ensure its readiness for space. Hera's mission is to perform a close-up survey of the crater left by the DART mission's impact on the Dimorphos asteroid and measure the mass and composition of Dimorphos and its larger counterpart, Didymos. The spacecraft is scheduled to lift off in October 2024.

via European Space Agency|
#asteroid-mission#deep-space#hera
space2 years ago

UAE leads the way with asteroid missions in the Arab world.

The UAE Space Agency has announced its Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA), which is set to launch in March 2028 and fly by six asteroids in the main asteroid belt before arriving at a seventh asteroid in 2034. The spacecraft, called MBR Explorer, will weigh nearly 2,300 kilograms at launch and carry four instruments from American and Italian partners. The mission has several scientific objectives, with the primary one to study the origin and evolution of water-rich asteroids, and will conclude by rendezvousing with a seventh main belt asteroid, Justitia, in October 2034.

via SpaceNews|
#asteroid-mission#justitia#mbr-explorer
science-and-astronomy2 years ago

UAE plans asteroid landing mission in 2034.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) plans to send a spacecraft named MBR Explorer to the asteroid belt in 2028, with the aim of landing on an asteroid called (269) Justitia in 2034. The mission will visit seven different space rocks, including Justitia, which may have organic molecules on its surface. The spacecraft will carry four science instruments to probe the geology, composition, and structure of the asteroids. The UAE Space Agency was formed in 2014 and is one of the youngest space agencies in the world.

via Space.com|
#asteroid-mission#mbr-explorer#organic-molecules
space2 years ago

Arab mission to explore seven asteroids, including a red one.

The United Arab Emirates' deep space mission to explore the asteroid belt will visit seven main-belt asteroids, with a rendezvous with the asteroid 269 Justitia in April 2034. The asteroid has a very reddish hue, likely due to the presence of organic compounds called tholins on its surface. The mission seeks to better explain the origin and evolution of water-rich asteroids, as well as understand their potential as resource depots for future deep space exploration missions. Another goal is public engagement to inspire a new generation of scientists and engineers in the Middle East.

via Ars Technica|
#asteroid-mission#deep-space-exploration#justitia