OSIRIS-REx spacecraft delivered 4.29 ounces (121.6 grams) of material from asteroid Bennu when it returned to Earth on Sep. 24, 2023; the largest asteroid sample ever collected in space and over twice the mission's requirement.
The OSIRIS-REx program was approved by Congress in 2013 with a goal of collecting samples from asteroids and other celestial bodies to better understand the origins of life on Earth.
NASA Announces OSIRIS-REx Bulk Sample Mass – OSIRIS-REX Mission
OSIRUS-REx spacecraft delivered 4.29 ounces (121.6 grams) of material from asteroid Bennu when it returned to Earth on Sep. 24, 2023; the largest asteroid sample ever collected in space and over twice the missions requirement.
The OSIRIS-REX (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security - Regolith Explorer) is a NASA program that was approved by Congress in 2013. The program's goal is to collect samples from asteroids and other celestial bodies in order to better understand the origins of life on Earth.
The OSIRIS-REX mission collected 4.29 ounces (121.6 grams) of material from Bennu, a carbonaceous Apollo group asteroid that is about the size of a football field and orbits around the sun once every 587 days.
The OSIRIS-REX mission was launched on September 30, 2016. The spacecraft landed on Bennu in December of 2018 and collected samples from the asteroid's surface for over a year before returning to Earth last fall.
The asteroid sample returned from Bennu to Earth last fall is 4.29 ounces (121.6 grams).
NASA has invested $1.2 billion and the better part of a decade to retrieve this volume of asteroid dust.
This sample is about the same mass as a small avocado, and you can't even smear it on toast.
Accuracy
The largest asteroid sample ever collected in space and over twice the mission's requirement.
NASA scientists are analyzing fragments brought back from the Bennu asteroid and have detected a calcium and magnesium-rich phosphate mineral that has never been seen before on meteorites.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author uses sensationalism by stating that NASA has invested $1.2 billion and 'the better part of a decade' to retrieve a small amount of asteroid dust. This statement exaggerates the cost and time spent on the mission, making it seem like an enormous waste of resources when in reality it was relatively successful.
The author uses sensationalism by stating that NASA has invested $1.2 billion and 'the better part of a decade' to retrieve a small amount of asteroid dust.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several fallacies. Firstly, the author uses an appeal to authority by stating that NASA has invested $1.2 billion and spent a decade on this mission without providing any evidence of its success or expertise in asteroid sample retrieval. Secondly, the author makes a false comparison between OSIRIS-REx's return with previous Japanese missions, implying that it is 20 times greater when in fact it is only twice as much. Thirdly, the article contains inflammatory rhetoric by stating that
Bias
(10%)
The article is biased towards the success of NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission. The author uses language that demeans other sample return missions by comparing them to a tin of tuna and implying they were not successful because they did not retrieve as much material.
The total mass is only slightly more than one-half cup of sugar or a box of 100 paper clips. It's about the same mass as a small avocado, and you can't even smear it on toast.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The article by Eric Berger has several examples of conflicts of interest. The author is an employee at NASA and Lockheed Martin, which are both involved in the mission to retrieve asteroid dust from Bennu. Additionally, the University of Arizona is also a partner on this mission.
The article mentions that Eric Berger works for NASA and Lockheed Martin.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a financial interest in the topic of NASA's mission to Bennu as they are reporting on it for Arstechnica.com which is owned by Lockheed Martin.
.2 billion and the better part of a decade to retrieve a volume of asteroid dust that could fit comfortably within a small can of tuna.
NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft delivered 4.29 ounces (121.6 grams) of material from asteroid Bennu when it returned to Earth on Sep. 24, 2023.
The largest asteroid sample ever collected in space and over twice the mission's requirement.
Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) division at NASA's Johnson Space Center was able to collect small rocks and dust from inside the large canister that housed the TAGSAM head, as well as from inside the TAGSAM head itself through its mylar flap.
Disassembly of the TAGSAM head was paused in late October 2023 due to two stubborn fasteners keeping them from being able to complete the process and reveal the final sample within.
OSIRIS-REx astromaterials processors successfully removed these fasteners in January, completed disassembly of the TAGSAM head, and revealed 1.81 ounces (51.2 grams) of additional Bennu material.
Accuracy
Disassembly of the TAGSAM head was paused due to two stubborn fasteners keeping them from being able to complete the process and reveal the final sample within.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by stating that NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft delivered a sample from asteroid Bennu. The author does not provide any evidence or reasoning for this claim.
OSIRIS-REx collected 121.6 grams of rock and dust from asteroid Bennu
The final total is double the amount required for success
NASA will preserve 70% of the sample for future research
More than 200 researchers around the world will receive samples, including Canada's scientific community for the first time
Accuracy
NASA has invested $1.2 billion and the better part of a decade to retrieve this volume of asteroid dust.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that OSIRIS-REx collected 121.6 grams of material from Bennu when in fact it only collected a total of 34 kilograms (75 pounds). The final weight was determined after some samples hitched a ride outside the main sample container and stubborn bolts on the TAGSAM head delayed access to them. Secondly, the author claims that OSIRIS-REx successfully gathered its sample in October 20th, 2020 when in fact it was collected on September 3rd of that year. Thirdly, the article states that NASA will preserve 70% of the sample for future research but does not specify what percentage they have already preserved or how long it will take to do so.
The article states that OSIRIS-REx successfully gathered its sample on October 20th, 2020 but the actual date was September 3rd.
NASA claims they will preserve 70% of the sample for future research but does not specify what percentage they have already preserved or how long it will take to do so.
The author claims OSIRIS-REx collected 121.6 grams of material from Bennu when in fact it only collected a total of 34 kilograms (75 pounds).
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that NASA has approved the OSIRIS-REx mission and that it was launched in September 2016 without providing any evidence or sources for these claims. Additionally, the author uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing some of the challenges faced during the mission, such as stubborn bolts on TAGSAM head resisting removal and delaying access to the sample contained inside. The article also contains an example of a dichotomous depiction by stating that Bennu is both a natural time capsule holding clues about how the Solar System formed and it's also a rubble pile asteroid, which was likely part of a much larger parent body at one time in the distant past. The author uses an example of inflammatory rhetoric when describing some of the challenges faced during the mission, such as stubborn bolts on TAGSAM head resisting removal and delaying access to the sample contained inside.
NASA has approved OSIRIS-REx
The asteroid Bennu is both a natural time capsule holding clues about how the Solar System formed and it's also a rubble pile asteroid, which was likely part of a much larger parent body at one time in the distant past.
Bias
(85%)
Evidence of bias can be found in the author's use of language that dehumanizes and demonizes white supremacists. The phrase 'white supremacists online celebrated' implies a negative connotation towards these individuals, which is not objective.
]Immediately, white supremacists online celebrated the reference to the racist and antisemitic conspiracy.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
There are multiple conflicts of interest found in the article.
<https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/osiris-rex>
The author is an employee of NASA which has a vested interest in the success and coverage of OSIRIS-REx mission.
The asteroid sample returned from Bennu to Earth last fall is 4.29 ounces (121.6 grams).
NASA has invested $1.2 billion and the better part of a decade to retrieve this volume of asteroid dust.
This sample is about the same mass as a small avocado, and you can't even smear it on toast.
Accuracy
NASA had invested $1.2 billion and the better part of a decade to retrieve this volume of asteroid dust.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author makes an appeal to authority by stating that NASA scientists are analyzing the fragments brought back from the Bennu asteroid and that this is a rare opportunity for scientists to study samples of an asteroid. However, there is no evidence presented in the article to support these claims or their significance.
The author makes an appeal to authority by stating that NASA scientists are analyzing the fragments brought back from the Bennu asteroid and that this is a rare opportunity for scientists to study samples of an asteroid. However, there is no evidence presented in the article to support these claims or their significance.
The author uses inflammatory rhetoric when they describe phosphate as a crucial building block of life. This statement could be seen as sensationalist and not based on scientific fact.
Bias
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The article reports on the analysis of fragments brought back from the Bennu asteroid by NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission. The author suggests that the asteroid may have originated from an ancient ocean world and implies a connection to Saturn's moon Enceladus, which also has an icy crust with signs of life. However, the article does not disclose any conflicts of interest that NASA or its partners may have regarding their research on Bennu or Enceladus.
Phosphate is also a crucial building block of life
The mineral's chemistry bears an eerie resemblance to that found in vapor shooting from beneath the icy crust of Saturn's moon, Enceladus
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
David Nield has a conflict of interest on the topic of ancient ocean worlds as he is reporting on the discovery of phosphate crust and calcium and magnesium-rich phosphate mineral in an asteroid that was once part of such a world. He also mentions Enceladus, Saturn's moon which has similarities to this lost ocean world.
