SOLD OUT 

19:30 – 21:00

Lovell Lecture Series

Dr Sarah Crowther: OSIRIS-REx – The Journey to Bennu and Back

OSIRIS-REx, NASA’s first sample return mission to an asteroid, launched in September 2016 on a 7 year round trip to collect a sample from asteroid Bennu and return it to Earth for detailed analysis. The spacecraft delivered its precious cargo to Earth on 24^th September 2023. Since then, the Curation and Sample Analysis Teams have been hard at work with initial characterisation and analysis of the pristine, 4.6 billion year old samples.

In this talk Sarah will give an overview of the OSIRIS-REx mission, and talk about some of the initial findings from the first few months of sample analysis.

About Dr Sarah Crowther 

Dr Sarah Crowther is a Research Fellow in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Manchester.

Her research looks at the evolution of the early Solar System through laboratory-based chemical analysis of extra-terrestrial materials. A large part of her research focuses on age-dating meteorites, to unravel the thermal and impact histories of their parent asteroids. Sarah has previously analysed samples returned by NASA’s Genesis mission, the Apollo missions, NASA’s Stardust mission and the Japanese Hayabusa and Hayabusa2 missions. She is a member of the international Sample Analysis Team who are currently analysing and studying samples returned by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission.

Pre-book your meal at our First Light Café in our stunning new building. Open from 18:00 – 19:15 with the last sitting at 18:50. 

MENU

Ploughman’s Platter, £9.95

Pre-order your summer ploughman’s platter with locally sourced produce from across the county. Vegetarian and vegan options are also available. Prepared in takeaway boxes so you can enjoy your meal on the grounds of the site if the weather is kind.

• Classic Ploughman’s; Crusty Bloomer, Cheddar Cheese, Gammon slices, Hand-Raised Pork Pie, Pickled Onions, Salad, Apple slices, Grapes & Chutney
• Vegetarian Ploughman’s; Crusty Bloomer, Cheddar Cheese, Vegetarian Sausage Role, Quiche Slice, Pickled Onions, Beetroot Salad, Apple Slices, Grapes & Chutney
• Vegan Ploughman’s; Crusty Bloomer, Vine Ripened Tomatoes, Vegan Sausage Roll, Salad, Pickled Onions, Beetroot Salad, Apple Slices, Grapes & Chutney