Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

NASA’s Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft.
Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

Practice makes perfect, as they say.

NASA’s first mission to collect a sample from an asteroid — Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) – is zipping its way back to Earth.

Utah drop zone landscape.
Image credit:

OSIRIS-REx collected specimens of asteroid Bennu in October 2020.

Drop zone

Loaded with those precious collectibles, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will drop off its sample return capsule on September 24.

Recovery team practice to prepare sample return capsule for helicopter pickup.
Image credit: NASA/Keegan Barber

The desert drop zone: The Department of Defense’s Utah Test and Training Range.

Image credit: NASA/Keegan Barber

Early this week, recovery teams toured the projected landing ellipse in Utah, as well as performed a lengthy to-do list for the real recovery of the capsule, including airlifting the cosmic cargo via helicopter to an awaiting clean room.

Image credit: NASA/Keegan Barber

Image credit: NASA/Keegan Barber