• Osiris-Rex collected samples from asteroid Bennu on October 20, 2020. Photo: Nasa
    Osiris-Rex collected samples from asteroid Bennu on October 20, 2020. Photo: Nasa
  • The Osiris-Rex craft touches down on the asteroid Bennu to collect soil samples. Photo: Nasa
    The Osiris-Rex craft touches down on the asteroid Bennu to collect soil samples. Photo: Nasa
  • Nasa's recovery teams in August rehearsing before the capsule's landing attempt in a Utah desert on September 24. Nasa via AP
    Nasa's recovery teams in August rehearsing before the capsule's landing attempt in a Utah desert on September 24. Nasa via AP
  • An artist's impression of Osiris-Rex journeying through deep space. Nasa via AP
    An artist's impression of Osiris-Rex journeying through deep space. Nasa via AP
  • A sample container hovers over a capsule on the Osiris-Rex near the asteroid Bennu. Nasa via AP
    A sample container hovers over a capsule on the Osiris-Rex near the asteroid Bennu. Nasa via AP

How to watch a Nasa craft carrying asteroid samples return to Earth today


Sarwat Nasir
  • English
  • Arabic

A Nasa spacecraft is set to bring back asteroid samples to Earth today at 6pm after seven years of deep space travel.

The return marks the first mission of its kind by the US space agency, with only Japan so far succeeding in returning asteroid samples.

The Osiris-Rex spacecraft collected more than 60g of soil from the surface of the 492-metre asteroid Bennu, located about 330 million km from Earth, on October 20, 2020.

It is hoped studying the celestial object will help scientists gain insights into how the solar system was formed 4.5 billion years ago.

How to watch

As Osiris-Rex flies by Earth, it will release its sample return capsule into the atmosphere, which will then descend towards a Utah desert for a landing attempt.

Nasa will be live-streaming the moment the capsule will attempt to land on Earth, with the asteroid samples inside.

A broadcast on Nasa's website and social media channels will begin at 6pm on Sunday, September 24.

What is expected during the landing?

The craft will attempt to touch down on a US Department of Defence test and training range.

A parachute will be deployed upon re-entry.

Recovery crews will secure the sample return capsule and transport it to a clean room.

They will also collect soil and air samples around the canister before transporting it to Houston.

What is Bennu and how did the craft secure samples?

Bennu is a near-Earth asteroid that was first discovered in 1999 and is said to be formed from materials that date back billions of years.

“The Bennu sample may contain the molecular precursors to the origin of life and Earth’s oceans, and its study also will help scientists understand planet formation,” Nasa said.

The sample collection was a complex process because there was an 18.5-minute delay in sending and receiving signals between mission control and the craft due to the distance.

Navigation cameras on the capsule helped it successfully reach the asteroid.

Bennu orbits the sun at 101,388km/h. Osiris-Rex was programmed to travel towards it at about 19,400km/h and slow itself down on approach.

Once close enough, the spacecraft extended its robotic arm and vacuumed up samples.

Nasa almost lost the samples

During the collection process, a large rock prevented the container holding the samples from closing properly, causing some dust and rock to escape into space.

To save the mission, Nasa instructed the return capsule to close ahead of time and store about 60g of samples.

First US asteroid-sample-return mission

Only Japan so far has succeeded in asteroid-return missions.

Both of Japan’s Hayabusa missions successfully delivered material from two different asteroids.

However, the first mission brought back grains that showed only ordinary chondrites, the most common type of meteorite.

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AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street

The seven points are:

Shakhbout bin Sultan Street

Dhafeer Street

Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)

Salama bint Butti Street

Al Dhafra Street

Rabdan Street

Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)

Why it pays to compare

A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.

Route 1: bank transfer

The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.

Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount

Total received: €4,670.30 

Route 2: online platform

The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.

Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction

Total received: €4,756

The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.

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Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021

Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.

Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.

Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.

Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.

Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.

Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.

Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”

Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI. 

Updated: September 24, 2023, 12:48 PM