The Osiris-rex sample return capsule
just endured a lengthy 3.8 billion mile journey.
But the adventure doesn't end once it touches down.
The landing zone itself is so large and the terrain
so difficult to navigate that the recovery team delivers
the capsule to the clean room by helicopter.
Joe's going to be
the man hauling the capsule out on the long line.
And then Ryan McDonald is another member
and he will be hauling scientists along with myself.
The rest of the captured team.
So, Ben, can you tell me about the actual procedure
of taking the capsule on the long line?
It's a 100 foot long synthetic line.
It's got an electrical cord with it
that will hook on the belly of the helicopter.
There you go.
Point it out right here.
Yep. That's the hook that the line will go on.
The pilot will lower this
hook down to pick up the capsule.
They'll fly it back to the clean room, lower it down,
and when he lowers it down hill, hit a little button on this collective
that will release that hook, and he'll fly away with the long one.
This is not a normal ride.
Can you show us how you fly this for this particular mission?
Yeah.
So in this helicopter, when we're doing vertical reference,
that's what you call it when you have a line on
Now to see the end of the line, I'll be leaning out like this.
It's a it's an awkward position and kind of lean out and look back
because my hooks can be right down in the middle of the helicopter.
It will be this button.
This button here is the remote hook, and that will keep the line on the belly,
but it'll open that little green remote hook when you push it forward on.
The experience of these pilots is all a part of preserving
this pristine sample of ancient solar system material.
And we all cannot wait to see what chemical compounds the capsule holds.