Brian May performing in Madrid 2022
Photo: Redferns, Aldara Zarraoa. All rights reserved.
On Sunday (September 24th), a capsule containing the first samples from the surface of an asteroid landed on Earth. NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission began seven years ago and has now completed the first part of its mission. Also on the mission team: Queen guitarist Brian May.
Brian May is a trained astrophysicist and as such played a key role in the success of the OSIRIS-REx space probe. Using the data the probe transmitted to Earth, May created stetoscopic images that allowed mission leader Dante Lauretta’s team to identify a safe place to land and collect the sample from the surface of the near-Earth asteroid Bennu.
May was unable to be present in person to retrieve the sample, but reported via a video clip that was broadcast on TV. “Hello NASA people, space fans, asteroid lovers,” the guitarist opens in his video speech. “This is Brian May from Queen, as you probably know, but also very proud to be a team member of OSIRIS-REx.”
“I’m currently rehearsing for a Queen tour, but my heart remains with you while this precious sample is recovered,” he continued. “Congratulations on Rehearsal Return Day and congratulations to everyone who is working so incredibly hard on this mission, especially my dear friend Dante.”
After OSIRIS-REx successfully completed its task on the asteroid Bennu, the probe is now on course to explore the asteroid Apophis.