S8 Ep884:    The mission's climax involved the sample capsule's return to Earth in the Utah desert. Dante Lauretta describes the harrowing moments when the drogue parachute failed to deploy as scheduled, threatening a catastrophic crash landing. The successful depl
S8 Ep884: The mission's climax involved the sample capsule's return to Earth in the Utah desert. Dante Lauretta describes the harrowing moments when the drogue parachute failed to deploy as scheduled, threatening a catastrophic crash landing. The successful depl  
Podcast: The John Batchelor Show
Published On: Mon May 18 2026
Description: The mission's climax involved the sample capsule's return to Earth in the Utah desert. Dante Lauretta describes the harrowing moments when the drogue parachute failed to deploy as scheduled, threatening a catastrophic crash landing. The successful deployment of the main parachute at 60,000 feet ultimately secured a "mission success" and the recovery of a spectacular sample. Lauretta has since transitioned the spacecraft's ongoing mission, now called OSIRIS-APEX, to his former student Daniella DellaGiustina. He concludes by celebrating the mission's impact on training over 200 students, ensuring a legacy for future planetary exploration. (4/4)AUGUST 1961