NASA media briefing on Asteroid Bennu study findings

In 7 hours NASA will do a teleconference media briefing on "important findings" regarding Osiris-Rex spacecraft

NASA site

OSIRIS-REx spent over two years near the asteroid Bennu, which is a third of a mile (500 meters) wide. During that time, the spacecraft gathered information about Bennu’s size, shape, mass, and composition while monitoring its spin and orbital trajectory. Before leaving the near-Earth object May 10, 2021, the spacecraft scooped up a sample of rock and dust from the asteroid’s surface. OSIRIS-REx will return the sample to Earth Sept. 24, 2023, for further scientific study.

As media is coming up with senstional titles like:
"What Did NASA's OSIRIS-REx Mission Find In Space? 'Important Finding' "
"What did NASA find Near Bennu?"

they all hint at a finding in space, near Bennu and not connected to the rock samples that where collected by Osiris Rex, which are still on their way back to Earth.

Either way,
Not sure if it's going to be streamed live for the public, since it's says media only,
And their finding may very well be far less sensational then the media is hinting on,
But I'm not going to deny that I'm secretly hoping for exiting news

It said when I was a child that the moon rocks changed mankind here on Earth, so I guess we'll have another mankind change then.

a reply to: KindraLabelle2

It always sounds semi- exciting, but ends up being as dry as a camels fart ...

a reply to: musicismagic

yes, but the discovery seems to becoming from near the rock, not from 'on' it... maybe it has a passenger in it's tail

originally posted by: Timely
a reply to: KindraLabelle2

It always sounds semi- exciting, but ends up being as dry as a camels fart ...

oh I know..........
we'll know in about 5 hours.
Today this is the highlight of my day! lol

a reply to: KindraLabelle2

This great!! I'll be watching that and after that I'll head over to the garden for that other space event we got planned for today...



Got the lawn chairs already in place, 6 pack in the cooler...

Happy stargazing tonight!!

a reply to: keukendeur

love your name! LOL

by guessing your location, Perseids should be best visible around 3.30 am. N-NE

I want to stay up and watch.... but don't think I can stay awake for it

a reply to: KindraLabelle2

Heads up..going live.

Wait no...this is ISS live.

Gotta wait 3 more hours.

ETA: CoolScience Radio is actually updating us on the installment of the new toilet on ISS...lol

I'll think I will keep watching this.

8 min to go
NASA LIVE

a reply to: KindraLabelle2

So...no collision and with the data collected planetary defense scientists can better predict future orbits of other hazardous near-Earth asteroids.

Very impressive!!

Here's a sampling from when they hit that sucker in the face last year.



Thanks for an entertaining head-up OP!

Basically they said that the Osiris Rex mission enabled them to calculate a more precise orbit for asteroid Bennu, by eliminating the possible key holes it might go through when it comes close to us in 2132

it now has a 0.6% chance to impact Earth in 2182

Link to the Bennu trajectory
svs.gsfc.nasa.gov...

Besides that a lot of explaining about future missions to find unknown asteroids and use the same technology to calculate their path (I'll post a media link once one is up with full info)


A lady from a news agency asked the exact question I asked on Twitter (not sure if she picked it up from #AskNasa or had the exact same question in mind)

Q: What if we do get impact in 2182, what would the damage be to Earth? Would that be a near ELE event?
A: "an object the size of Bennu would leave a 5-10 km crater, the devastation around it would be hundreds times wider... maybe even coast to coast"

a reply to: KindraLabelle2

Found it funny when they said they pinpointed this thing within 2 meters accuracy....the size of a basketball player.

a reply to: keukendeur

you beat me to it! lol

it was informative
I guess for them it is spectacular...

I think the focus was more on explaining their future missions to land on asteroids to calculated their orbit. And they deflected every question that was asked about the possibility of blasting a future encounter out of orbit.

originally posted by: keukendeur
a reply to: KindraLabelle2

Found it funny when they said they pinpointed this thing within 2 meters accuracy....the size of a basketball player.

well... in case someone doesn't understand the metrical system, ' the size of a basketball player ' is a good explanation!

a reply to: KindraLabelle2

All I get out of this is that the return of King Osiris will happen on September 24, 2023.

Is it cultural appropriation to dress like an Ancient Egyptian on that day?

originally posted by: keukendeur
a reply to: KindraLabelle2

Found it funny when they said they pinpointed this thing within 2 meters accuracy....the size of a basketball player.

Only because the scientists involved went to schools that had standards for math that involved getting the answers right.

Are you listening Oregon?

originally posted by: SlapMonkey
a reply to: KindraLabelle2

All I get out of this is that the return of King Osiris will happen on September 24, 2023.

Is it cultural appropriation to dress like an Ancient Egyptian on that day?

nope.
Unless you are a member of the cult, in which case you will have to perform the ritual sacrifice of a servant... and bring a cat...