Watching the video in this NYTimes article NASA Aims at an Asteroid Holding Clues to the Solar System’s Roots I realized for the first time how the samples actually make it back to Earth.

The chemical composition of the organic and volatile compounds is of great interest for this mission for many reasons. So I would think that it is important to avoid thermally induced chemical reactions, migration, and or redistribution of the compounds within the sample matrix. If it gets hotter than it does while on Bennu, the science may be compromised.

note: According to the text in this excellent Asteroid Missions animation near the end, the re-entry velocity will start at about 12.4 km/sec. See also OSIRIS-REx Press Kit

From here:

Return and analyze a sample of pristine carbonaceous asteroid regolith in an amount sufficient to study the nature, history, and distribution of its constituent minerals and organic material.

Is the re-entry kept shallow to avoid peak external temperatures, or is it deep and rapid to "get it over with" before heat can diffuse through (presumably) a lot of insulation?

Screen shots from the NYTimes video:

Watching the video in this NYTimes article NASA Aims at an Asteroid Holding Clues to the Solar System’s Roots I realized for the first time how the samples actually make it back to Earth.

The chemical composition of the organic and volatile compounds is of great interest for this mission for many reasons. So I would think that it is important to avoid thermally induced chemical reactions, migration, and redistribution of the compounds within the sample matrix. If it gets hotter than it does while on Bennu, the science may be compromised.

note: According to the text in this excellent Asteroid Missions animation near the end, the re-entry velocity will start at about 12.4 km/sec. See also OSIRIS-REx Press Kit.

From Wikipedia's article on OSIRIS-REx:

Return and analyze a sample of pristine carbonaceous asteroid regolith in an amount sufficient to study the nature, history, and distribution of its constituent minerals and organic material.

Is the re-entry kept shallow to avoid peak external temperatures, or is it deep and rapid to "get it over with" before heat can diffuse through (presumably) a lot of insulation?

Screen shots from the NYTimes video:

Watching the video in this NYTimes article NASA Aims at an Asteroid Holding Clues to the Solar System’s Roots I realized for the first time how the samples actually make it back to Earth.

The chemical composition of the organic & volatile compounds is of great interest for this mission for many reasons. So I would think that it is important to avoid thermally induced chemical reactions, migration, and or redistribution of the compounds within the sample matrix. If it gets hotter than it does while on Bennu, the science may be compromised.

note: According to the text in this excellent Asteroid Missions animation near the end, the re-entry velocity will start at about 12.4 km/sec. See also OSIRIS-REx Press Kit

From here:

Return and analyze a sample of pristine carbonaceous asteroid regolith in an amount sufficient to study the nature, history, and distribution of its constituent minerals and organic material.

Is the re-entry kept shallow to avoid peak external temperatures, or is it deep and rapid to "get it over with" before heat can diffuse through (presumably) a lot of insulation?

Screen shots from the NYTimes video:

Watching the video in this NYTimes article NASA Aims at an Asteroid Holding Clues to the Solar System’s Roots I realized for the first time how the samples actually make it back to Earth.

The chemical composition of the organic and volatile compounds is of great interest for this mission for many reasons. So I would think that it is important to avoid thermally induced chemical reactions, migration, and or redistribution of the compounds within the sample matrix. If it gets hotter than it does while on Bennu, the science may be compromised.

note: According to the text in this excellent Asteroid Missions animation near the end, the re-entry velocity will start at about 12.4 km/sec. See also OSIRIS-REx Press Kit

From here:

Return and analyze a sample of pristine carbonaceous asteroid regolith in an amount sufficient to study the nature, history, and distribution of its constituent minerals and organic material.

Is the re-entry kept shallow to avoid peak external temperatures, or is it deep and rapid to "get it over with" before heat can diffuse through (presumably) a lot of insulation?

Screen shots from the NYTimes video:

Watching the video in this NYTimes article NASA Aims at an Asteroid Holding Clues to the Solar System’s Roots I realized for the first time how the samples actually make it back to Earth.

The chemical composition of the orgainic and volatile compounds is of great interest for this mission for many reasons. So I would think that it is important to avoid thermally induced chemical reactions and migration/redistribution of the compounds within the sample matrix. If it gets hotter than it does while on Bennu, the science may be compromised.

note: According to the text in this excellent Asteroid Missions animation near the end, the re-entry velocity will start at about 12.4 km/sec. See also OSIRIS-REx Press Kit

From here:

Return and analyze a sample of pristine carbonaceous asteroid regolith in an amount sufficient to study the nature, history, and distribution of its constituent minerals and organic material.

Is the re-entry kept shallow to avoid peak external temperatures, or is it deep and rapid to "get it over with" before heat can diffuse through (presumably) a lot of insulation?

Screen shots from the NYTimes video:

Watching the video in this NYTimes article NASA Aims at an Asteroid Holding Clues to the Solar System’s Roots I realized for the first time how the samples actually make it back to Earth.

The chemical composition of the organic & volatile compounds is of great interest for this mission for many reasons. So I would think that it is important to avoid thermally induced chemical reactions, migration, and or redistribution of the compounds within the sample matrix. If it gets hotter than it does while on Bennu, the science may be compromised.

note: According to the text in this excellent Asteroid Missions animation near the end, the re-entry velocity will start at about 12.4 km/sec. See also OSIRIS-REx Press Kit

From here:

Return and analyze a sample of pristine carbonaceous asteroid regolith in an amount sufficient to study the nature, history, and distribution of its constituent minerals and organic material.

Is the re-entry kept shallow to avoid peak external temperatures, or is it deep and rapid to "get it over with" before heat can diffuse through (presumably) a lot of insulation?

Screen shots from the NYTimes video: