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Osiris-Rex: Nasa awaits fiery return of asteroid Bennu samples
A seven-year mission to study what has been described as the most dangerous rock in the Solar System is about to reach its dramatic conclusion.
The Osiris-Rex spacecraft is bringing home the “soil” samples it grabbed from the surface of asteroid Bennu.
These dusty materials will be dropped off by the Nasa probe as it sweeps past the Earth on Sunday. They’ll be tucked inside a capsule to protect them from a fiery descent to the US State of Utah.
Scientists expect the samples’ chemistry to reveal new information about the formation of the planets 4.5 billion years ago, and possibly even to give insights into how life got started on our world.
Touchdown on desert land belonging to the Department of Defense is expected at 08:55 local time (14:55 GMT; 15:55 BST).
It is sure to be an anxiety-fuelled day for everyone involved in the Osiris-Rex project – especially during the 13 minutes it takes for the capsule to fall through the atmosphere.
The car tyre-sized container will be moving initially at more than 12km/s (27,000mph) and experiencing peak heating in excess of 3,000C. But a combination of a thermal shield and parachutes should bring it to a safe stop on the desert plain.
“We have spent an inordinate amount of time preparing for contingencies, everything that could go wrong, all the horrible things that we might encounter,” mission principal investigator Dante Lauretta told the BBC. “But the good news is we’ve practised and practised and practised and so we’re ready to go.”
The Osiris-Rex spacecraft left Earth in 2016 to investigate Bennu, which has a very slight chance of hitting our planet late next century. The probe took two years to reach the 500m-wide rock and a further two years observing the “space mountain” before making an audacious series of manoeuvres that obtained the cache of surface materials. All that remains is to bring those samples – about 250g (9oz) in mass – safely to the ground. The probe should release the capsule about four hours before re-entry is due to begin.
(BBC)
Emeritus Professor of Anthropology Gananath Obeyesekere has passed away at the age of 95.
Latest News
Acceptance of nominations for Punakiri, Mannar and Dehiattakandiya local authorities ends at 12 noon on Thursday (27th March 2025)
The Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Rathnayake issuing a media release states that the acceptance of nominations for the Punakiri Pradeshiya Sabha in the Kilinochchi district, Mannar Pradeshiya Sabha in the Mannar district and Dehiattakandiya Pradeshiya Sabha in the Ampara district which commenced on 24th March will end at 12noon on 27th March 2025.
The poll notice for the three above named local authorities was published on 10th March 2025 and the acceptance of deposits for the same will end at 12noon on 26th March 2025.
The Gabba will be demolished after the 2032 Olympic Games, and cricket will move to a new 60,000-seater stadium in the Victoria Park area of Brisbane, which will be built for the Olympics.
Queensland’s premier David Crisafulli announced the latest plans for Olympic infrastructure on Tuesday, with cricket a pivotal figure in the outcome, having been impacted by the uncertainty over what the state would do after going through various proposals since being awarded the Olympics in 2021.
When Cricket Australia announced its seven-year international venue allocation in 2024, the Gabba was only guaranteed international cricket until next summer’s men’s Ashes amid the wrangling over whether the ground would be redeveloped or replaced. “This decision gives us certainty about venues and scheduling which in turn allows us to ensure Brisbane hosts the very best possible international and domestic cricket,” CA said in a statement. “We strongly advocated building a stadium in Victoria Park together with Queensland Cricket, the AFL and Brisbane Lions, and cricket will play a major role in ensuring this significant investment delivers long-term benefits for cricket fans and the people of Queensland.
“On behalf of the cricket community we want to thank the Queensland Government for seizing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to give the fans, the city and the state the stadium they deserve.”
Cricket is returning to the Olympics for the 2028 edition in Los Angeles having only previously featured in 1900. Should it be retained for 2032, it is earmarked for Mackay’s Great Barrier Reef Arena as well as the Gabba in what would shape as the ground’s final matches before it is knocked down.
“Wouldn’t it be amazing to see the Australian cricket team win gold at an Olympic final? The Gabba’s swansong,” Crisafulli said at an event in Brisbane.
The Gabba was initially set to be demolished and rebuilt for A$2.7 billion under the Labor government for the 2032 Games before that was scrapped amid a backlash over rising costs. It was then set for a $600 million facelift under Labor before those plans were also abandoned under the new government.
(Cricinfo)
Prof. Gananath Obeyesekere passes away aged 95
Acceptance of nominations for Punakiri, Mannar and Dehiattakandiya local authorities ends at 12 noon on Thursday (27th March 2025)
Gabba to be demolished after 2032 Olympics, cricket to get new home in Brisbane
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