{"id":764464,"date":"2019-12-13T15:21:28","date_gmt":"2019-12-13T15:21:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ghana-mma.com\/2019\/12\/13\/nasa-picks-landing-spot-on-asteroid-for-mission-to-grab-sample-for-return-to-earth\/"},"modified":"2019-12-13T15:21:28","modified_gmt":"2019-12-13T15:21:28","slug":"nasa-picks-landing-spot-on-asteroid-for-mission-to-grab-sample-for-return-to-earth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2019\/12\/13\/nasa-picks-landing-spot-on-asteroid-for-mission-to-grab-sample-for-return-to-earth\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA picks landing spot on asteroid for mission to grab sample for return to Earth"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Washington – US space scientists selected a site on the distant asteroid Bennu for the OSIRIS-Rex spacecraft to swoop down, grab a sample from the orb\u2019s boulder-strewn surface and return to earth, NASA said in a press release on Thursday.<\/p>\n

“The area safe enough for the spacecraft to touch is much smaller \u2013 approximately 52 feet (16 meters) in diameter, resulting in a site that is only about one-tenth the size of what was originally envisioned,” the release said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

NASA explained the site was selected after the spacecraft spent a year stalking and scoping the asteroid\u200b\u200b\u200b.<\/p>\n

Additional reconnaissance flights will be needed for the “touch-and-go” sample collection attempt, the release said.<\/p>\n

The spacecraft will begin its journey back to earth in 2021 and is scheduled to return to Earth in September 2023, the release added.<\/p>\n