NASA: an explosion at Cape Canaveral not affect the launch date of the probe to the asteroid Bennu – TASS

NEW YORK, September 2. / Corr. TASS Aleksey Kachalin /. Term start of the American scientific probe to the OSIRIS-REx asteroid Bennu, scheduled for September 8, remains in force. As reported by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), on the schedule of the expedition did not affect the carrier rocket blast the Falcon 9 with a communication satellite Amos-6 at the launch site, located at Cape Canaveral (Florida).

“Run OSIRIS-REx is still scheduled for September 8. Preliminary examination has shown that the rocket and spacecraft are undamaged and intact. They are located 1.8 km from the launch pad of the company SpaceX (developed the Falcon 9)” – said the US space agency

As assured in SpaceX, as a result of the incident no one was hurt.. “We can confirm that during the preparations for today (on Thursday MSK – approx Tass.) Standard static fire test was an anomaly on the pad, this has led to the loss of the rocket and its cargo, – said in a statement -. In accordance with the usual practice on the site there was no one, no one was hurt. ” CEO Elon Musk said that the explosion occurred at a time when the missile fueled.

The probe OSIRIS-REx September 8 will go on a long expedition on board the carrier rocket Atlas V of United Launch Alliance from the spaceport at Cape Canaveral. Weight OSIRIS-REx, having the shape of a cube with edges of 2.5 m, is 650 kg. Apparatus have to take a sample of soil weight from 60 grams to 2 kg by a robotic arm, equipped with a special pneumatic device. Meeting with an asteroid is scheduled for 2018 and delivery of the soil sample to Earth -. At 2023

According to US experts, the main goal is to obtain new data on the structure and composition of asteroids that pose a potential danger for our planet. Later, this information can be used for the organization of special missions to prevent the asteroid threat. Scientists hope that the new information will allow them to expand their knowledge about the origin of celestial bodies and the structure of the universe.