![]() (Image credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona)Although technically, this is a slight increase in risk, the scientists behind the research don't believe it will have any significant impact. Asteroid trajectory calculations can be improved by the research, which could help reduce concerns about possible impacts from other asteroids."The impact probability went up just a bit, but it's still not a significant difference, the impact probability remains pretty much the same," Davide Farnocchia (lead author), who works at NASA's Center for Near Earth Object Studies, California, stated during a news conference on Wednesday, August 11. "I believe that the overall situation has improved."Precision is importantOverall, I believe that the situation has improved. Davide Farnocchia is the study's lead author.OSIRIS-REx, also known as Origins Spectral Interpretation and Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer, was launched in September 2016 by OSIRIS-REx. It was then placed in orbit around the asteroid Bennu, December 2018.The spacecraft spent almost two-and-a-half years studying the space rock orbiting it, hovering above and inspecting every aspect of the rock.Dante Lauretta (University of Arizona planetary scientist), said that the trajectory of the spacecraft was "really amazing" and was compared to a hummingbird. He is also the principal investigator of OSIRIS-REx, and was an author of the new research. We were able go into orbit, and we were also able leave orbit. This allowed us to see a wide range of angles.The spacecraft kept track of its position relative to Earth and the asteroid throughout that period. The new research team was able to refine their understanding of the movement and location of the space rock for almost two and a quarter years using this data.October 2020 was the culmination of the spacecraft's trip to the asteroid. OSIRIS-REx took a sample from Bennu for its safekeeping. The spacecraft and its valuable cargo left the asteroid in May and returned to Earth. OSIRIS-REx will deposit a sample capsule on September 2023. This delivery will allow scientists to examine asteroid material with all the advanced equipment available in terrestrial laboratories.Scientists don't have to be able to access the sample material in order to study the two-and-a-half years of spacecraft observations. ![]()
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