NASA Claims Massive Asteroid Could Hit Earth in the Future
A team of researchers studying an asteroid known as Bennu believes it may one day make contact with Earth.
The team behind OSIRIS-REx—which stands for Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security–Regolith Explorer—spacecraft recently published new data that gives the asteroid a minuscule, one-in-2,700 chance of impacting the planet nearly 159 years to the date on Sept. 24, 2182.
The new potential date for impact follows three previous "close encounters," occurring in 1999, 2005 and 2011.
OSIRIS-REx was launched in Sept. 2016 with the purpose of collecting samples from the surface of Bennu. It is now headed back to Earth with its sample, which is scheduled to land via capsule release on Sept. 24, 2023. The spacecraft spent several years collecting samples from the surface of the Empire State Building-sized asteroid before starting the lengthy journey back home.
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According to NASA, the rocks and dust from the surface will help scientists determine how planets are formed and will also aid in improving their understanding of asteroids that may one day make contact with Earth.
OSIRIS-REx had the capability of up to three sampling attempts, which would have allowed it to collect up to 2,000 grams of materials. While the capsule will land in Utah, the materials will be transported to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, where much of it will be preserved for scientists around the world to study for years to come.
According to Space.com, after releasing its capsule, OSIRIS-REx will continue on to another asteroid known as Apophis, which will take another six or so years to reach.
For those wanting to watch the capsule's return, you can tune in this Sunday starting at 10 a.m. EST.
