In this episode, we sit down with Jason P. Dworkin to discuss the cosmos in unprecedented ways. Always interested in the origin of life, Jason is a Senior Scientist for Astrobiology at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center who uses meteoritics, astrobiology, and analytical chemistry to observe our universe and uncover its hidden mysteries.

Currently, Jason is working on the OSIRIS-REx mission as a project scientist, contamination science lead, and sample analyst. This mission has several major objectives: 

• To understand how life on Earth formed and evolved within a planetary context. 
• Return and analyze a sample of Bennu’s surface
• Map the asteroid
• Document the sample site
• Measure the orbit deviation caused by non-gravitational forces  
• Compare observations at the asteroid to ground-based observations

How does Jason’s work explore life's origin and early evolution while also focusing on the extraterrestrial input and the origin of various molecules? From modern analytical methods to laboratory models of ancient environments, he takes on an intriguing journey into the heart of his research…

To learn more about Jason and his work, click here now!

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Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9

Valuable insights and resources shared by  Jason P. Dworkin:

• Returned sample: https://blogs.nasa.gov/osiris-rex/2024/02/15/nasa-announces-osiris-rex-bulk-sample-mass/
• Maneuvers around Bennu: https://youtu.be/nx1r3HPGC_c?si=mHJ0GdcL6VZYsCAw
• Surface of Bennu: https://youtu.be/42EwbQ3afPA?si=RHR-0fP0GZp1iGDm
• Bennu’s orbit and selection: https://youtu.be/Q3qiPXP57SE?si=QqQgKWdTGs8WbMht
• Bennu impact hazard: orbit in 2135 and 2182: https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4921/
• Working in the cleanroom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVKwneTwWm0
• Sample return: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto/albums/72177720311435828/

More information:

• https://science.nasa.gov/mission/osiris-rex
• https://www.asteroidmission.org
• https://curator.jsc.nasa.gov/osirisrex/
• https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/search/?missions=OSIRIS-REX
• https://plus.nasa.gov/?s=osiris-rex