After a seven-year journey, the University of Arizona-led OSIRIS-REx space mission is coming to an end this morning.
A capsule containing samples from the asteroid Bennu is slated to land at the Utah Test and Training Range in the desert west of Salt Lake City at approximately 7:55 a.m. Tucson time.Β
At this time, we expect that the sample return capsule has entered Earthβs atmosphere! We should gain tracking information soon. #OSIRISREx pic.twitter.com/PZtMRmHo4V
β NASA Solar System (@NASASolarSystem) September 24, 2023
Arizona Daily Star reporter Henry Brean is on site in Utah and will be sharing updates at @RefriedBrean on X, formerly named Twitter.
The capsule about the size of a truck tire just hit the atmosphere above the California coast at about 27,000 mph and quickly heated up to about 5,000 degrees Farenheit.
β Henry Brean (@RefriedBrean) September 24, 2023
NASA will broadcast the event starting at 7 a.m. and you can watch it here:
Where to find more of the latest OSIRIS-REx updates:
- Follow along with the NASA Solar System account on X.
- See the latest posts from the University of Arizona on X and Facebook.
- Stay tuned on tucson.com for a full report being published online later today and in the Monday edition of the Arizona Daily Star.
Satellite images show the space mission's landing site at the Utah Test and Training Range
