On Sept. 24, 2023, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx became the first U.S. mission to deliver a sample of an asteroid to Earth. This article provides answers to frequently asked questions about the mission.
Read More OSIRIS-REx: Frequently Asked QuestionsNASA’s OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security – Regolith Explorer) is the first U.S. mission to collect a sample from an asteroid and return it to Earth. Launched on September 8, 2016, the spacecraft arrived at asteroid Bennu in December 2018 and collected a sample from its surface on October 20, 2020. The mission aims to deliver the largest asteroid sample ever received on Earth, estimated to hold about half a pound of Bennu’s material or 8.8 ounces +/- 3.6 ounces (250 grams +/- 101 grams).
Read More OSIRIS-REx: A Journey to Asteroid Bennu and BackThe asteroid belt, located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, consists of a large number of rocky and metallic bodies that vary in size from small boulders to objects that are hundreds of kilometers in diameter. While often portrayed as a densely packed region in popular culture, the asteroid belt is actually quite sparse, with vast distances separating individual asteroids. Nonetheless, this region presents significant opportunities for scientific research, mineral extraction, and commercial ventures. This article reviews the characteristics of the asteroid belt and discusses its growing importance in the realm of the space economy.
Read More The Asteroid Belt and Its Relevance to the Space EconomyThe concept of sending humans to Mars has been a subject of scientific proposals, engineering challenges, and public interest for decades. The reasons for considering such a mission are multifaceted and span scientific, economic, and sociopolitical dimensions.
Read More The Importance of Human Exploration of MarsThe SpaceX Starship is planned to serve as a space refueling depot, a concept that this article explores in detail.
Read More SpaceX Starship: Space Fuel Depot Application