Brian May Helps NASA Bring The Largest Asteroid Sample That Has Ever Returned To Earth

Brian May (Instagram @offcialqueenmusic)

JAKARTA - Queen guitarist Brian May played an important role in NASA's mission to bring samples of the largest asteroid to Earth.

The legendary guitarist who is also an astrophysicist and received a PhD degree from Imperial College in 2007 helped identify the location of the sampling.

May is an expert in stereoscopy, which is the process of handling a pair of two-dimensional images that, when viewed with both eyes, can be used to create 3D views.

This process is important in helping identify where a spacecraft can collect samples without damaging or destroying itself.

Sunday, September 24, it was announced that capsules containing about 250 grams of rock and dust collected from asteroid Bennu as part of NASA's▁pertimbangan-Rex mission were deployed into the desert in Utah.

May and its collaborator Claudia Manzoni contribute to the list of sample site options at Bennu. I've always said that you need art and science," May told the BBC.

It's like an artistic thing. You need to feel the terrain to find out if the spacecraft is likely to crash or will hit a 'disaster rock' right on the edge of the site that was finally chosen, which is called death," he added.

"If that happens then it will be a disaster. There is a billion dollars in American taxpayers' money at stake."

In his new video message, May expressed his pride in being involved in this historic mission.

"I'm very proud to be a member of the OSIRIS-REx team," he told Nasa TV. "I can't be with you today, I hope I can, but I'm training for the Queen tour, but my heart is with you when this valuable sample is found. Happy return day sample and congratulations to all who have worked very hard on this mission."

Scientists hope this sample can help explain how life on Earth began.