NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASA is working hard to chart a new course into the future. They are also looking into the past. Right now, the space agency is taking a step back in time to study a Tyrannosaurus rex skull.

Image to left: Two men look at the T. rex skull. Credit: Carnegie Museum of Natural History

This research is being done at Marshall Space Flight Center. This center is located in Huntsville, Ala. The equipment being used to study the skull was designed to examine rocket engines. "Marshall is one of the few places in the world with the technology needed for such a complex scan," said Chris Beard. He works for the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. This museum is located in Pittsburgh. "We are very excited NASA has agreed to provide space-age technology for this project."

So, where did the skull come from? It was discovered on a South Dakota ranch in 1992. Scientists believe it is the most complete and well-preserved T. rex skull ever discovered. The scientists who found it named it "Samson." This Biblical name recognizes the beast's reputation as one of the strongest dinosaurs to ever roam the Earth.

Dr. Ron Beshears is leading the project at the Marshall center. His team is running many tests on the fossil. One of the tools they are using is a high-tech scanner. This scanner is normally used to test parts and equipment that are going into space. The scans will give Carnegie Museum experts detailed cross-section images of the fossil. This will help museum experts understand the basic anatomy of the T. rex. It will also help them learn more about how the T. rex lived.

"The idea of working with 65-million-year-old dinosaur bones alongside next-generation space technologies is something we're quite excited about," Beshears said. "We're happy we can use our facility to assist in a scientific investigation of the dinosaur fossil."

The fossil arrived at the Marshall center on Dec. 1, 2004. The tests will last several weeks. Results will be used by Carnegie Museum researchers to compare Samson's skull with other T. rex skulls. This will help the scientists notice differences in future T. rex finds. Although Samson is privately owned, the museum will be working with it for two years. It arrived at the museum in May 2004.

The fossil skull has been separated from its skeleton. This makes it easier to study. The skull is mostly encrusted in rock. It arrived at Marshall in a large shipping crate. The crate is about 5 feet by 3.5 feet. It weighs about 1,600 pounds. Because the skull is so fragile, it will stay in the crate while the testing is being done. After all of the tests on the skull are completed, it will be returned to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. There, it will be used to recreate the once-fearsome prehistoric beast.

This isn't the first time NASA has done research on items from the past. In 1989, a time capsule was sent to the Marshall center. This time capsule had been sealed in 1889. Scientists X-rayed the capsule to figure out how to open it without breaking what was inside. In April 1989, the capsule was opened in Washington, D.C.

Image to right: Dr. K. Christopher Beard shows Samson to a group of students. Credit: Carnegie Museum of Natural History

The group doing all of this work at Marshall has another important job, too. They are working to get the Space Shuttle back into space safely. Flying the Space Shuttle again is the first step in the Vision for Space Exploration. The second step is the completion of the International Space Station. Sending human and robotic missions to explore the Solar System is another important step in this plan.

Adapted from No Bones About It