NASA scientists recently faced the challenge of unfastening two stubborn screws on the lid of a container holding samples from the OSIRIS-REx mission. These screws had previously prevented researchers from accessing rocks and dust from the 4.6-billion-year-old asteroid Bennu. After months of unsuccessful attempts, scientists developed and tested special tools to finally undo the fasteners while preserving the integrity of the asteroid sample, according to NASA.
The initial 33 of the 35 fasteners on the lid were removed shortly after the container was retrieved when it returned to Earth in late 2023. However, the last two screws proved uncooperative, posing a unique challenge for the research team. Due to the delicate environment housing the container, traditional tricks for dealing with stubborn fasteners were not an option. Instead, NASA had to design and fabricate multi-part tools that adhered to the strict guidelines for use inside the glovebox, allowing the team to gain purchase on the fasteners and ultimately undo them.
These new tools were crafted from a specific grade of surgical, non-magnetic stainless steel, the hardest metal approved for use in the pristine curation gloveboxes. The development process required the tools to function effectively within the confined space of the glovebox, limiting their height, weight, and arc movement, according to Dr. Nicole Lunning, OSIRIS-REx curator at Johnson.
Prior to successful removal, extensive testing and development were conducted, including mock trials, to ensure that the new tools and removal procedures could effectively achieve the required torque while minimizing any potential damage or contamination of the sample within.
Following the successful removal of the fasteners, NASA scientists celebrated their accomplishment on Twitter. With the container finally open, the Bennu samples will be subjected to analysis before being cataloged and hermetically sealed for preservation. These samples are expected to contain some of the oldest materials formed in the solar system.
