Studies of the 4.5-billion-year-old asteroid Bennu sample collected in space and brought to Earth by NASA reveals never seen before minerals. The asteroid also contains also high-carbon content and water, which together could indicate the building blocks of life on earth may be found in the rock.

NASA's Bennu asteroid sample contains carbon, water

<p>NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission, acronymically named Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security — Regolith Explorer, culminated in the successful retrieval of specimens from asteroid Bennu. These extraterrestrial samples, captured over a seven-year mission, hold the potential to unravel the mysteries of our solar system's origins.</p>

<p>After a seven-year voyage, the OSIRIS-REx sample canister touched down on September 24, 2023, in a remote area of Utah. This marked the beginning of a meticulous analysis of the cosmic treasure trove brought back from Bennu, believed to contain remnants dating back 4.5 billion years.</p>

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<h2><strong>Insights from Bennu's specimens</strong></h2>

<p>The Bennu samples, primarily composed of water-rich minerals and various elements like carbon and nitrogen, represent an unparalleled opportunity for scientific investigation. Researchers anticipate that these materials will shed light on the formation processes of celestial bodies within our solar system, including Earth.</p>

<p>Early analyses have unveiled distinctive features of Bennu's composition, including a phosphate crust unseen in meteorites. Moreover, isotopic studies have revealed that Bennu's material differs significantly from known meteorite samples, suggesting a unique origin.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/asteroid-that-fell-in-germany-is-extremely-rare-as-old-as-solar-system-scientists-687684">Also read |&nbsp;Asteroid that fell in Germany ‘extremely rare’, as old as solar system: Scientists</a></p>

<p>The presence of phosphates in Bennu's material hints at the possibility that the asteroid may have originated from an ancient ocean world. This speculation underscores the potential role of asteroids in the delivery of essential ingredients for life to terrestrial planets like Earth.</p>

<p>Teams of scientists, equipped with cutting-edge analytical tools, are engaged in a comprehensive examination of the Bennu specimens. From optical and electron microscopes to advanced instruments like the nanoSIMS, researchers are poised to uncover new insights into the asteroid's history and composition.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission, acronymically named Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security — Regolith Explorer, culminated in the successful retrieval of specimens from asteroid Bennu.

NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission, acronymically named Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security — Regolith Explorer, culminated in the successful retrieval of specimens from asteroid Bennu. These extraterrestrial samples, captured over a seven-year mission, hold the potential to unravel the mysteries of our solar system's origins. After a seven-year voyage, the OSIRIS-REx sample canister touched down on September 24, 2023, in a remote area of Utah. This marked the beginning of a meticulous analysis of the cosmic treasure trove brought back from Bennu, believed to contain remnants dating back 4.5 billion years. Also read | Aliens made the 'meteor' that hit Earth 10 years ago, scientist claims Insights from Bennu's specimens The Bennu samples, primarily composed of water-rich minerals and various elements like carbon and nitrogen, represent an unparalleled opportunity for scientific investigation. Researchers anticipate that these materials will shed light on the formation processes of celestial bodies within our solar system, including Earth. Early analyses have unveiled distinctive features of Bennu's composition, including a phosphate crust unseen in meteorites. Moreover, isotopic studies have revealed that Bennu's material differs significantly from known meteorite samples, suggesting a unique origin. Also read | Asteroid that fell in Germany ‘extremely rare’, as old as solar system: Scientists The presence of phosphates in Bennu's material hints at the possibility that the asteroid may have originated from an ancient ocean world. This speculation underscores the potential role of asteroids in the delivery of essential ingredients for life to terrestrial planets like Earth. Teams of scientists, equipped with cutting-edge analytical tools, are engaged in a comprehensive examination of the Bennu specimens. From optical and electron microscopes to advanced instruments like the nanoSIMS, researchers are poised to uncover new insights into the asteroid's history and composition. (With inputs from agencies)

First look of asteroid Bennu samples hints it could be remnant of ancient ocean world

<p>The curation team at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston has successfully removed the two fasteners that had impeded access to the remaining sample material collected from OSIRIS-REx's asteroid Bennu. The curation team&nbsp;collected 2.48 ounces (70.3 grams) of asteroid material, surpassing NASA's goal of bringing at least 60 grams to Earth.</p>

<p>Eileen Stansbery, division chief for ARES (Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science)&nbsp;at Johnson, appreciated the dedication of the team, stating, “Our engineers and scientists have worked tirelessly behind the scenes for months to not only process the more than 70 grams of material we were able to access previously but also design, develop, and test new tools that allowed us to move past this hurdle.”</p>

<p>The disassembly of the Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM) head is now underway, revealing rocks and dust delivered by NASA’s first asteroid sample return mission.</p>

<p>“The innovation and dedication of this team has been remarkable. We are all excited to see the remaining treasure OSIRIS-REx holds,"&nbsp;Stansbery added.</p>

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<p>Following additional disassembly steps, image specialists will capture ultra-high-resolution pictures of the bulk sample still inside the TAGSAM head. This portion will then be removed, weighed, and the total mass of Bennu material captured by the mission will be determined.</p>

<h2>Roadblock faced by the team</h2>

<p>The curation team faced a challenge in mid-October when two fasteners could not be removed with the approved tools inside the OSIRIS-REx glovebox.</p>

<p>Following this challenge, new multi-part tools were designed. This one featured custom-fabricated bits made from surgical, non-magnetic stainless steel.</p>

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<p>Dr. Nicole Lunning, OSIRIS-REx curator at Johnson, highlighted the design challenge, stating, “In addition to the design challenge of being limited to curation-approved materials to protect the scientific value of the asteroid sample, these new tools also needed to function within the tightly-confined space of the glovebox.”</p>

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<p>However, it was not that simple. Before even starting the successful removal, the team rigorously tested the tools and removal procedures in a rehearsal lab, which demonstrated success in achieving the required torque while minimising the risk of damage to the TAGSAM head. It also reduced the risk of contamination of the sample.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The curation team at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston has successfully removed the two fasteners that had impeded access to the remaining sample material collected from OSIRIS-REx's asteroid Bennu.

The curation team at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston has successfully removed the two fasteners that had impeded access to the remaining sample material collected from OSIRIS-REx's asteroid Bennu. The curation team collected 2.48 ounces (70.3 grams) of asteroid material, surpassing NASA's goal of bringing at least 60 grams to Earth. Eileen Stansbery, division chief for ARES (Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science) at Johnson, appreciated the dedication of the team, stating, “Our engineers and scientists have worked tirelessly behind the scenes for months to not only process the more than 70 grams of material we were able to access previously but also design, develop, and test new tools that allowed us to move past this hurdle.” The disassembly of the Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM) head is now underway, revealing rocks and dust delivered by NASA’s first asteroid sample return mission. “The innovation and dedication of this team has been remarkable. We are all excited to see the remaining treasure OSIRIS-REx holds," Stansbery added. Also Read | World’s oldest forest found in US: First-ever investigation reveals ages of ancient plants, trees Following additional disassembly steps, image specialists will capture ultra-high-resolution pictures of the bulk sample still inside the TAGSAM head. This portion will then be removed, weighed, and the total mass of Bennu material captured by the mission will be determined. Roadblock faced by the team The curation team faced a challenge in mid-October when two fasteners could not be removed with the approved tools inside the OSIRIS-REx glovebox. Following this challenge, new multi-part tools were designed. This one featured custom-fabricated bits made from surgical, non-magnetic stainless steel. Also Read | NASA’s Fermi telescope spots new gamma-ray beyond Milky Way, which could help solve cosmic mystery Dr. Nicole Lunning, OSIRIS-REx curator at Johnson, highlighted the design challenge, stating, “In addition to the design challenge of being limited to curation-approved materials to protect the scientific value of the asteroid sample, these new tools also needed to function within the tightly-confined space of the glovebox.” Watch | NASA unveils X-59 plane to test supersonic flight over US cities × However, it was not that simple. Before even starting the successful removal, the team rigorously tested the tools and removal procedures in a rehearsal lab, which demonstrated success in achieving the required torque while minimising the risk of damage to the TAGSAM head. It also reduced the risk of contamination of the sample. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA finally unlocks the container with samples from asteroid Bennu

<p>NASA's ambitious mission to uncover the mysteries of the solar system has encountered an unforeseen obstacle. Two months after securing a crucial sample from the asteroid Bennu, the space agency faces a perplexing challenge—it is unable to open the canister housing the precious extraterrestrial material.</p>

<h2><strong>A precious payload from Bennu</strong></h2>

<p>On September 24, NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft triumphantly returned to Earth, carrying a special payload—an invaluable canister filled with rocks and dust collected from the surface of asteroid Bennu.</p>

<p>These space rocks are of profound significance, holding potential clues to the solar system's origin and the ability to answer critical questions about Earth's formation.</p>

<p>The Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM), designed to secure the asteroid sample, has become an unexpected challenge for NASA's scientific and engineering teams. Despite months of preparation and anticipation, NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston encountered a hurdle when attempting to unlock the TAGSAM.</p>

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<p>NASA officially disclosed the issue on October 20, revealing that two out of the 35 fasteners on the TAGSAM head could not be removed using the current tools approved for use in the OSIRIS-REx glovebox. This marks the first time NASA has encountered such a challenge in retrieving a sample from an asteroid in space, highlighting the intricacies of the TAGSAM mechanics.</p>

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<p>In response to the unexpected challenge, the NASA team has been diligently working to troubleshoot the problem, adjusting their approach to opening the TAGSAM head. Despite multiple attempts, the resistant fasteners have proven formidable. The constraints of the OSIRIS-REx glovebox, designed to prevent contamination, have further complicated the process, limiting the tools that can be employed to those fitting within the glovebox.</p>

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<p>Despite these formidable challenges, the NASA has has continued its efforts to&nbsp;access a portion of the sample. It has extracting 70.3 grams of rocks and dust from both the outside and inside of the TAGSAM head so far. Surpassing the initial goal of collecting 60 grams, this partial success has already yielded valuable insights into the composition of the asteroid, providing a silver lining amid the technical challenges faced by the space agency.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


NASA's ambitious mission to uncover the mysteries of the solar system has encountered an unforeseen obstacle. Two months after securing a crucial sample from the asteroid Bennu, the space agency faces a perplexing challenge—it is unable to open the canister housing the precious extraterrestrial material.

NASA's ambitious mission to uncover the mysteries of the solar system has encountered an unforeseen obstacle. Two months after securing a crucial sample from the asteroid Bennu, the space agency faces a perplexing challenge—it is unable to open the canister housing the precious extraterrestrial material. A precious payload from Bennu On September 24, NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft triumphantly returned to Earth, carrying a special payload—an invaluable canister filled with rocks and dust collected from the surface of asteroid Bennu. These space rocks are of profound significance, holding potential clues to the solar system's origin and the ability to answer critical questions about Earth's formation. The Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM), designed to secure the asteroid sample, has become an unexpected challenge for NASA's scientific and engineering teams. Despite months of preparation and anticipation, NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston encountered a hurdle when attempting to unlock the TAGSAM. Also read | Explained: As tale of lost tomatoes grips the world, here's understanding how veggies are grown in space NASA officially disclosed the issue on October 20, revealing that two out of the 35 fasteners on the TAGSAM head could not be removed using the current tools approved for use in the OSIRIS-REx glovebox. This marks the first time NASA has encountered such a challenge in retrieving a sample from an asteroid in space, highlighting the intricacies of the TAGSAM mechanics. Also watch | NASA Chief says Aliens exist In response to the unexpected challenge, the NASA team has been diligently working to troubleshoot the problem, adjusting their approach to opening the TAGSAM head. Despite multiple attempts, the resistant fasteners have proven formidable. The constraints of the OSIRIS-REx glovebox, designed to prevent contamination, have further complicated the process, limiting the tools that can be employed to those fitting within the glovebox. Also read | This is what going to gym looks like on International Space Station Despite these formidable challenges, the NASA has has continued its efforts to access a portion of the sample. It has extracting 70.3 grams of rocks and dust from both the outside and inside of the TAGSAM head so far. Surpassing the initial goal of collecting 60 grams, this partial success has already yielded valuable insights into the composition of the asteroid, providing a silver lining amid the technical challenges faced by the space agency. (With inputs from agencies)

Two months on, NASA is still struggling to open sample container from asteroid Bennu

<p>Researchers in the United Kingdom are preparing to unveil the secrets of a sample of rock retrieved from the asteroid Bennu after its dust arrived at the Natural History Museum in London. Notably, the asteroid has a 1-in-1,750 chance of colliding with Earth in the next 300 years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A capsule returned in late September with material collected by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft from the near-Earth asteroid, whose 100mg sample is given to the researchers at the museum. The sample will be subjected to several tests at the museum and the Open, Manchester and Oxford universities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>During the extraordinary challenge, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) spacecraft touched down on Bennu and collected more than 60g of untouched material, which is the largest amount — more than what was brought back during the Apollo programme.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As quoted by The Guardian, Dr Ashley King, a planetary scientist who will work on the grains at the museum, said: "It's amazing. It's like a little treasure trove that takes us back to the start of the solar system. I can't wait to get my hands on them and see what we can learn about the early solar system."&nbsp;</p>

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<h2><strong>Asteroid Bennu contains water: NASA</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>NASA last month confirmed that the sample from the asteroid Bennu contains water and carbon molecules, both are building blocks for life. This finding has offered more evidence for the theory that life on Earth was seeded from outer space.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Last month, NASA administrator Bill Nelson said at a press event at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, that this is the biggest "carbon-rich asteroid sample ever returned to Earth". &nbsp;</p>

<p>He added that carbon accounted for almost five per cent of the sample's total weight, and was present in both organic and mineral form. He further said that the water was locked inside the crystal structure of clay minerals.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/this-is-what-happens-to-astronauts-fingernails-after-a-walk-in-space-and-it-is-terrifying-663760">This is what happens to astronauts' fingernails after a walk in space, and it's scary</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>At the London Museum, the researchers will be focussed on analysing hydrogen isotopes in the water bound up in Bennu in order to find if any of them matches that found in Earth's oceans.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The sample will also help scientists in future to understand asteroids and establish whether or not they are dangerous; and know how to destroy or deflect or destroy them if they pose a potential threat to Earth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>King said: "It doesn't sound like a lot of material, but it's plenty to work with. The museum is home to one of the world's leading meteorite collections, and the staff are well-used to handling small amounts of extremely precious materials from outer space."&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


Researchers in the United Kingdom are preparing to unveil the secrets of a sample of rock retrieved from the asteroid Bennu after its dust arrived at the Natural History Museum in London.

Researchers in the United Kingdom are preparing to unveil the secrets of a sample of rock retrieved from the asteroid Bennu after its dust arrived at the Natural History Museum in London. Notably, the asteroid has a 1-in-1,750 chance of colliding with Earth in the next 300 years. A capsule returned in late September with material collected by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft from the near-Earth asteroid, whose 100mg sample is given to the researchers at the museum. The sample will be subjected to several tests at the museum and the Open, Manchester and Oxford universities. During the extraordinary challenge, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) spacecraft touched down on Bennu and collected more than 60g of untouched material, which is the largest amount — more than what was brought back during the Apollo programme. As quoted by The Guardian, Dr Ashley King, a planetary scientist who will work on the grains at the museum, said: "It's amazing. It's like a little treasure trove that takes us back to the start of the solar system. I can't wait to get my hands on them and see what we can learn about the early solar system." Also read: Milestone for ISRO's AstroSat as it detects 600th gamma-ray burst Asteroid Bennu contains water: NASA NASA last month confirmed that the sample from the asteroid Bennu contains water and carbon molecules, both are building blocks for life. This finding has offered more evidence for the theory that life on Earth was seeded from outer space. Last month, NASA administrator Bill Nelson said at a press event at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, that this is the biggest "carbon-rich asteroid sample ever returned to Earth". He added that carbon accounted for almost five per cent of the sample's total weight, and was present in both organic and mineral form. He further said that the water was locked inside the crystal structure of clay minerals. Also read: This is what happens to astronauts' fingernails after a walk in space, and it's scary At the London Museum, the researchers will be focussed on analysing hydrogen isotopes in the water bound up in Bennu in order to find if any of them matches that found in Earth's oceans. The sample will also help scientists in future to understand asteroids and establish whether or not they are dangerous; and know how to destroy or deflect or destroy them if they pose a potential threat to Earth. King said: "It doesn't sound like a lot of material, but it's plenty to work with. The museum is home to one of the world's leading meteorite collections, and the staff are well-used to handling small amounts of extremely precious materials from outer space." (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists at London Museum to study dust from Bennu asteroid and unveil secrets

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<p>NASA's Johnson Space Center has been struggling to open a canister which kept an asteroid sample safe during its journey through space.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A month ago, pristine samples from an asteroid landed on Earth, enclosed within a tight capsule. However, the curation team for the OSIRIS-REx mission, the first US mission to collect a sample from asteroid Bennu, has been having trouble opening the TAGSAM (Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism) head.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The team has been handling the TAGSAM head carefully using a specialised glovebox under the nitrogen flow to prevent contamination.</p>

<p>In a blog post,&nbsp;NASA said, "After multiple attempts at removal, the team discovered that they could not remove two of the 35 fasteners on the TAGSAM head with the current tools approved for use in the OSIRIS-REx glovebox. The team has been developing and implementing new approaches to extract the material inside the head while continuing to keep the sample safe and pristine."</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="www.wionews.com/science/giant-solar-storm-to-hit-earth-on-oct-24-heres-how-to-protect-yourself-650597" target="_blank">Giant solar storm to hit Earth on Oct 24: Here's how to protect yourself</a></p>

<p>On the initial removal of the aluminium lid on the canister, the mission team found black dust and debris on the avionics deck. On 11 October 2023, NASA revealed the first sample collected from TAGSAM's outer covering. However, it mentioned that the team still hasn't opened the sample canister.</p>

<p>So far, the curation team has removed some of the material from inside the canisters using tweezers. "The tools for any proposed solution to extract the remaining material from the head must be able to fit inside the glovebox and not compromise the scientific integrity of the collection, and any procedures must be consistent with the clean room's standards," NASA wrote in its blog post.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/sperm-caught-breaking-newtons-third-law-of-motion-know-how-650556" target="_blank">Human sperm is breaking one of Newton's laws of motion and the finding may be revolutionary</a></p>

<p>According to NASA, the asteroid samples collected exceed the mission's goal of gathering 60 grams of debris from the asteroid. The space agency has recovered 70.3 grams of rocks and dust. The research team has also found an abundance of carbon and water molecules in the samples.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Launched in September 2016, the OSIRIS-REx mission reached asteroid Bennu in December 2018. The spacecraft landed on Bennu and collected a sample from its surface in October 2020. Then, OSIRIS-REx dropped the asteroid sample in the Utah desert on 24 September 2023.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Although the mission has hit a temporary block, the initial findings from the asteroid sample look promising.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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NASA's Johnson Space Center has been struggling to open a canister which kept an asteroid sample safe during its journey through space. A month ago, pristine samples from an asteroid landed on Earth, enclosed within a tight capsule.

NASA's Johnson Space Center has been struggling to open a canister which kept an asteroid sample safe during its journey through space. A month ago, pristine samples from an asteroid landed on Earth, enclosed within a tight capsule. However, the curation team for the OSIRIS-REx mission, the first US mission to collect a sample from asteroid Bennu, has been having trouble opening the TAGSAM (Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism) head. The team has been handling the TAGSAM head carefully using a specialised glovebox under the nitrogen flow to prevent contamination. In a blog post, NASA said, "After multiple attempts at removal, the team discovered that they could not remove two of the 35 fasteners on the TAGSAM head with the current tools approved for use in the OSIRIS-REx glovebox. The team has been developing and implementing new approaches to extract the material inside the head while continuing to keep the sample safe and pristine." ALSO READ | Giant solar storm to hit Earth on Oct 24: Here's how to protect yourself On the initial removal of the aluminium lid on the canister, the mission team found black dust and debris on the avionics deck. On 11 October 2023, NASA revealed the first sample collected from TAGSAM's outer covering. However, it mentioned that the team still hasn't opened the sample canister. So far, the curation team has removed some of the material from inside the canisters using tweezers. "The tools for any proposed solution to extract the remaining material from the head must be able to fit inside the glovebox and not compromise the scientific integrity of the collection, and any procedures must be consistent with the clean room's standards," NASA wrote in its blog post. ALSO READ | Human sperm is breaking one of Newton's laws of motion and the finding may be revolutionary According to NASA, the asteroid samples collected exceed the mission's goal of gathering 60 grams of debris from the asteroid. The space agency has recovered 70.3 grams of rocks and dust. The research team has also found an abundance of carbon and water molecules in the samples. Launched in September 2016, the OSIRIS-REx mission reached asteroid Bennu in December 2018. The spacecraft landed on Bennu and collected a sample from its surface in October 2020. Then, OSIRIS-REx dropped the asteroid sample in the Utah desert on 24 September 2023. Although the mission has hit a temporary block, the initial findings from the asteroid sample look promising. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

A canister containing asteroid samples is giving NASA a hard time. Here's why

NASA recently unveiled a sample scooped from the 4.5 billion-year-old asteroid Bennu saying it contains abundant water and carbon.

NASA unveils sample from asteroid Bennu, says it contains ample water & carbon

<p>NASA revealed on Wednesday (Oct 11) that a sample collected from asteroid Bennu contains abundant water and carbon. Both of these are vital materials involved in the formation of Earth. This finding lends more weight to the hypothesis that foundational blocks for life on Earth was seeded from outer space.</p>

<p>The sample scooped&nbsp;from the 4.5-billion-year-old asteroid&nbsp;is the largest soil sample ever to be taken from the surface of an asteroid.</p>

<h2>The big unveiling</h2>

<p>Asteroid sample collected by the OSRIS-REx spacecraft three years ago was unveiled at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.</p>

<p>This comes just a little more than two weeks after the&nbsp;sample made it to Earth. It parachuted down in the Utah desert.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/explained-nasa-fetches-celestial-cargo-to-earth-heres-why-bennu-asteroid-samples-matter-639472">Explained | NASA sends Bennu asteroid samples to Earth. Here's why the celestial cargo matters</a></strong></p>

<p>"The first analysis shows samples that contain abundant water in the form of hydrated clay minerals," NASA chief Bill Nelson said in a press event.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"This is the biggest carbon rich asteroid sample ever returned to Earth," he said, with the carbon contained in the form of both minerals and organic molecules.</p>

<h3><strong>Why is this asteroid sample significant?</strong></h3>

<p>This is only the third Asteroid sample, and by far the biggest, to return to Earth for analysis. Earlier, Japan, via its two similar missions, had retrieved the much smaller asteroid samples.</p>

<p>At the time of its landing, the Bennu sample, as per estimates, weighed about 100 to 250 grams (3.5 to 8.8 ounces).</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/us-federal-aviation-administration-proposes-revolutionary-way-to-limit-human-litter-in-earths-orbit-638666">US Federal Aviation Administration proposes revolutionary way to limit human litter in Earth's orbit</a></strong></p>

<p>Before this, both the capsule and its contents were under examination in a "clean room" at the Utah Test and Training range near the landing site.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Following that, the capsule was transported to the Johnson centre, where its inner canister was opened. This was done so that samples could be parcelled into smaller specimens. These specimens will go to some 200 scientists in 60 laboratories around the world, reports Reuters.</p>

<h2><strong>The Asteroid behind it all</strong></h2>

<p>The celestial samples were collected a year ago from Bennu, a small, carbon-rich asteroid that was discovered in 1999.</p>

<p>Classified as a "near-Earth object", Bennu passes relatively close to the Earth every six years.</p>

<p>The asteroid is made up of a loose collection of rocks and is rich in carbon, which is the building block of life on Earth.</p>

<p>Bennu measures just 500 metres or 1,640 feet in diameter, which means it is tiny compared to the Chicxulub asteroid that some 66 million years ago struck Earth and wiped out the dinosaurs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Even though Bennu passes by Earth every few years, the odds of an impact are considered remote, but not zero.</p>

<p>Scientists estimate that the asteroid could catastrophically collide with Earth. They estimate that the catastrophe which has a one in 2,700 chance of happening will not take place till the year 2182. This is another reason why understanding Bennu's composition can come in handy.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


NASA revealed on Wednesday (Oct 11) that a sample collected from asteroid Bennu contains abundant water and carbon. Both of these are vital materials involved in the formation of Earth.

NASA revealed on Wednesday (Oct 11) that a sample collected from asteroid Bennu contains abundant water and carbon. Both of these are vital materials involved in the formation of Earth. This finding lends more weight to the hypothesis that foundational blocks for life on Earth was seeded from outer space. The sample scooped from the 4.5-billion-year-old asteroid is the largest soil sample ever to be taken from the surface of an asteroid. The big unveiling Asteroid sample collected by the OSRIS-REx spacecraft three years ago was unveiled at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. This comes just a little more than two weeks after the sample made it to Earth. It parachuted down in the Utah desert. Also read | Explained | NASA sends Bennu asteroid samples to Earth. Here's why the celestial cargo matters "The first analysis shows samples that contain abundant water in the form of hydrated clay minerals," NASA chief Bill Nelson said in a press event. "This is the biggest carbon rich asteroid sample ever returned to Earth," he said, with the carbon contained in the form of both minerals and organic molecules. Why is this asteroid sample significant? This is only the third Asteroid sample, and by far the biggest, to return to Earth for analysis. Earlier, Japan, via its two similar missions, had retrieved the much smaller asteroid samples. At the time of its landing, the Bennu sample, as per estimates, weighed about 100 to 250 grams (3.5 to 8.8 ounces). Also read | US Federal Aviation Administration proposes revolutionary way to limit human litter in Earth's orbit Before this, both the capsule and its contents were under examination in a "clean room" at the Utah Test and Training range near the landing site. Following that, the capsule was transported to the Johnson centre, where its inner canister was opened. This was done so that samples could be parcelled into smaller specimens. These specimens will go to some 200 scientists in 60 laboratories around the world, reports Reuters. The Asteroid behind it all The celestial samples were collected a year ago from Bennu, a small, carbon-rich asteroid that was discovered in 1999. Classified as a "near-Earth object", Bennu passes relatively close to the Earth every six years. The asteroid is made up of a loose collection of rocks and is rich in carbon, which is the building block of life on Earth. Bennu measures just 500 metres or 1,640 feet in diameter, which means it is tiny compared to the Chicxulub asteroid that some 66 million years ago struck Earth and wiped out the dinosaurs. Even though Bennu passes by Earth every few years, the odds of an impact are considered remote, but not zero. Scientists estimate that the asteroid could catastrophically collide with Earth. They estimate that the catastrophe which has a one in 2,700 chance of happening will not take place till the year 2182. This is another reason why understanding Bennu's composition can come in handy. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA unveils sample from asteroid Bennu, says it contains abundant water and carbon

<p>NASA on Sunday successfully brought to the Earth the largest soil sample scooped from the surface of the asteroid, Bennu.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The asteroid sample streaked through our planet's surface and parachuted into the Utah desert, delivering precious cargo — a celestial specimen that can potentially hold answers to questions like how Earth became habitable and much more.</p>

<h2><strong>Origin story</strong></h2>

<p>Asteroid samples, as per an AFP report, are composed of the 'original materials of the solar system' and are considered relics of the early solar system.&nbsp;</p>

<p>These materials date back around 4.5 billion years, have remained relatively intact and, as per Osiris-Rex program executive Melissa Morris, "can give us clues about how the solar system formed and evolved."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/watch-nasa-spacecraft-lands-successfully-with-largest-sample-collected-from-asteroid-639236">Watch | NASA spacecraft lands successfully in Utah with largest sample collected from asteroid Bennu</a></strong></p>

<p>"It's our own origin story," she said, as quoted by AFP.</p>

<p>NASA scientist Amy Simon told AFP that it is hypothesised that by striking Earth's surface, "we do believe asteroids and comets delivered organic material, potentially water, that helped life flourish here on Earth."</p>

<h2><strong>The Asteroid behind it all</strong></h2>

<p>The celestial samples were collected three year ago from Bennu, a small, carbon-rich asteroid that was discovered in 1999.</p>

<p>Classified as a "near-Earth object", Bennu passes relatively close to the Earth every six years.</p>

<p>The asteroid is made up of a loose collection of rocks and is rich in carbon, which is the building block of life on Earth. Scientists believe that it might contain water molecules locked in minerals.</p>

<p>Bennu measures just 500 metres or 1,640 feet in diameter, which means it is tiny compared to the Chicxulub asteroid that some 66 million years ago struck Earth and wiped out the dinosaurs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Even though Bennu passes by Earth every few years, the odds of an impact are considered remote, but not zero.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/us-federal-aviation-administration-proposes-revolutionary-way-to-limit-human-litter-in-earths-orbit-638666">US Federal Aviation Administration proposes revolutionary way to limit human litter in Earth's orbit</a></strong></p>

<p>Scientists estimate that the asteroid could catastrophically collide with Earth. They estimate that the catastrophe which has a one in 2,700 chance of happening will not happen till the year 2182. This is another reason why understanding Bennu's composition can come in handy.</p>

<p>Three years back, in 2020, NASA's OSIRIS-REx probe collected samples from Bennu. The probe had landed on Bennu in 2020, four years after it was launched in 2016.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At the time Bennu had surprised scientists. Upon its brief contact with the asteroid, the OSIRIS-REx probe sank into Bennu's surface. This revealed to scientists that much like a children's pool filled with plastic balls, the asteroid had an unexpectedly low density.</p>

<h2><strong>Perilous journey</strong></h2>

<p>The precious samples travelled some 67,000 miles (107,826 kilometres) to touch down on Earth. Osiris-Rex released its gumdrop-shaped capsule as the mother-ship passed our planet.</p>

<p>As per AFP, the final 13 minutes of the descent were a fiery passage, where the capsule hurled at a speed of more than 27,000 miles an hour. During the descent, the temperatures reached up to 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,760 degrees Celsius).</p>

<p>Osiris-Rex meanwhile, as per NASA, has moved on and is "on its way" for a date with another asteroid.</p>

<h2><strong>Tears, hope and billions of miles</strong></h2>

<p>Speaking at a press conference, the Osiris-Rex mission's principal investigator Dante Lauretta said they had high hopes from the sample.</p>

<p>She recalled how emotional the moment the capsule deployed was.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We heard 'main chute detected," she said, adding, "I literally broke into tears."</p>

<p>"That was the moment I knew we made it home... For me, the real science is just beginning."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/an-asteroid-will-make-a-close-encounter-with-earth-on-september-21-nasa-predicts-638611">Asteroid to make its first-ever close approach to Earth! NASA predicts</a></strong></p>

<p>NASA has managed to collect roughly nine ounces (250 grams) of dust samples from Bennu's surface. This is by far the largest asteroid sample collected.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Previously, in 2020, Japan's Hayabusa-2 mission collected a five-gram specimen from an asteroid called Ryugu. Ten years before that, in 2010, Japan had brought back a tiny sample from asteroid Itokawa.</p>

<p>Japan had shared a few grains from Ryugu with NASA. The samples, as per Reuters, were found to contain two organic compounds, supporting the hypothesis that celestial objects such as comets, asteroids and meteorites that bombarded early Earth seeded the young planet with the primordial ingredients for life.</p>

<h2><strong>How will the sample be used?</strong></h2>

<p>As per AFP, the sample will travel to Johnson Space Center in Houston for additional study.&nbsp;NASA is expected to release initial results at a news conference on October 11.</p>

<p>The space agency will use roughly one-fourth of the asteroid sample immediately to conduct experiments. It will also share small amounts of the asteroid dust with mission partners Japan and Canada.</p>

<p>However, NASA will save most of it for future generations. It will be, as Lori Glaze, director of NASA's Planetary Sciences division, puts it, a "treasure for scientific analysis for years and years and years to come, to our kids and grandkids and people that haven't even been born yet."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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NASA on Sunday successfully brought to the Earth the largest soil sample scooped from the surface of the asteroid, Bennu. The asteroid sample streaked through our planet's surface and parachuted into the Utah desert, delivering precious cargo — a celestial specimen that can potentially hold answers to questions like how Earth became habitable and much more.

NASA on Sunday successfully brought to the Earth the largest soil sample scooped from the surface of the asteroid, Bennu. The asteroid sample streaked through our planet's surface and parachuted into the Utah desert, delivering precious cargo — a celestial specimen that can potentially hold answers to questions like how Earth became habitable and much more. Origin story Asteroid samples, as per an AFP report, are composed of the 'original materials of the solar system' and are considered relics of the early solar system. These materials date back around 4.5 billion years, have remained relatively intact and, as per Osiris-Rex program executive Melissa Morris, "can give us clues about how the solar system formed and evolved." Also read | Watch | NASA spacecraft lands successfully in Utah with largest sample collected from asteroid Bennu "It's our own origin story," she said, as quoted by AFP. NASA scientist Amy Simon told AFP that it is hypothesised that by striking Earth's surface, "we do believe asteroids and comets delivered organic material, potentially water, that helped life flourish here on Earth." The Asteroid behind it all The celestial samples were collected three year ago from Bennu, a small, carbon-rich asteroid that was discovered in 1999. Classified as a "near-Earth object", Bennu passes relatively close to the Earth every six years. The asteroid is made up of a loose collection of rocks and is rich in carbon, which is the building block of life on Earth. Scientists believe that it might contain water molecules locked in minerals. Bennu measures just 500 metres or 1,640 feet in diameter, which means it is tiny compared to the Chicxulub asteroid that some 66 million years ago struck Earth and wiped out the dinosaurs. Even though Bennu passes by Earth every few years, the odds of an impact are considered remote, but not zero. Also read | US Federal Aviation Administration proposes revolutionary way to limit human litter in Earth's orbit Scientists estimate that the asteroid could catastrophically collide with Earth. They estimate that the catastrophe which has a one in 2,700 chance of happening will not happen till the year 2182. This is another reason why understanding Bennu's composition can come in handy. Three years back, in 2020, NASA's OSIRIS-REx probe collected samples from Bennu. The probe had landed on Bennu in 2020, four years after it was launched in 2016. At the time Bennu had surprised scientists. Upon its brief contact with the asteroid, the OSIRIS-REx probe sank into Bennu's surface. This revealed to scientists that much like a children's pool filled with plastic balls, the asteroid had an unexpectedly low density. Perilous journey The precious samples travelled some 67,000 miles (107,826 kilometres) to touch down on Earth. Osiris-Rex released its gumdrop-shaped capsule as the mother-ship passed our planet. As per AFP, the final 13 minutes of the descent were a fiery passage, where the capsule hurled at a speed of more than 27,000 miles an hour. During the descent, the temperatures reached up to 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,760 degrees Celsius). Osiris-Rex meanwhile, as per NASA, has moved on and is "on its way" for a date with another asteroid. Tears, hope and billions of miles Speaking at a press conference, the Osiris-Rex mission's principal investigator Dante Lauretta said they had high hopes from the sample. She recalled how emotional the moment the capsule deployed was. "We heard 'main chute detected," she said, adding, "I literally broke into tears." "That was the moment I knew we made it home... For me, the real science is just beginning." Also read | Asteroid to make its first-ever close approach to Earth! NASA predicts NASA has managed to collect roughly nine ounces (250 grams) of dust samples from Bennu's surface. This is by far the largest asteroid sample collected. Previously, in 2020, Japan's Hayabusa-2 mission collected a five-gram specimen from an asteroid called Ryugu. Ten years before that, in 2010, Japan had brought back a tiny sample from asteroid Itokawa. Japan had shared a few grains from Ryugu with NASA. The samples, as per Reuters, were found to contain two organic compounds, supporting the hypothesis that celestial objects such as comets, asteroids and meteorites that bombarded early Earth seeded the young planet with the primordial ingredients for life. How will the sample be used? As per AFP, the sample will travel to Johnson Space Center in Houston for additional study. NASA is expected to release initial results at a news conference on October 11. The space agency will use roughly one-fourth of the asteroid sample immediately to conduct experiments. It will also share small amounts of the asteroid dust with mission partners Japan and Canada. However, NASA will save most of it for future generations. It will be, as Lori Glaze, director of NASA's Planetary Sciences division, puts it, a "treasure for scientific analysis for years and years and years to come, to our kids and grandkids and people that haven't even been born yet." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained | NASA sends Bennu asteroid samples to Earth. Here's why the celestial cargo matters

<p>After seven years, a space voyage came to its climactic end on Sunday (September 24) as a NASA capsule made a safe landing in the Utah desert of the United States, carrying the largest sample ever collected from an asteroid in space.<br />
<br />
The capsule made a fiery final descent through the atmosphere of the Earth as expected with the samples collected from asteroid Bennu and parachuted into the&nbsp;Utah desert of the United States.<br />
<br />
"Touchdown of the Osiris-Rex sample return capsule. A journey of a billion miles to asteroid Bennu and back has come to an end," said a commentator on NASA's live video webcast of the landing.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/an-asteroid-will-make-a-close-encounter-with-earth-on-september-21-nasa-predicts-638611">Asteroid to make its first-ever close approach to Earth! NASA predicts</a></p>

<p>The sample, which was collected from asteroid Bennu in 2020, is estimated to contain some 250 grams (nine ounces) of material by the US space agency, which is more than two previous asteroid specimens which were brought back to the Earth by Japanese missions.<br />
<br />
Sharing the video of the landing, NASA wrote on X, “TOUCHDOWN! The #OSIRISREx sample capsule landed at the Utah Test and Training Range at 10:52am ET (1452 UTC) after a 3.86-billion mile journey. This marks the US's first sample return mission of its kind and will open a time capsule to the beginnings of our solar system.”</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">TOUCHDOWN! The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OSIRISREx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OSIRISREx</a> sample capsule landed at the Utah Test and Training Range at 10:52am ET (1452 UTC) after a 3.86-billion mile journey. This marks the US's first sample return mission of its kind and will open a time capsule to the beginnings of our solar system. <a href="https://t.co/N8fun14Plt">pic.twitter.com/N8fun14Plt</a></p>
— NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1705959691287761289?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Scientists have been hopeful about the sample and have said that it is likely to provide them with more information about the solar system and how Earth turned into a habitable place.<br />
<br />
The probe, which was launched in 2016, landed on the asteroid Bennu after four years and was able to collect around nine ounces (250 grams) of dust from the asteroid's rocky surface.<br />
<br />
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said that even the small amount of sample should "help us better understand the types of asteroids that could threaten Earth" and cast light "on the earliest history of our solar system.”<br />
<br />
"This sample return is really historic. This is going to be the biggest sample we've brought back since the Apollo moon rocks were returned to Earth,” said NASA scientist Amy Simon, while speaking to AFP.</p>

<h2><strong>NASA to announce results of the test on October 11</strong></h2>

<p>The capsule was released by Osiris-Rex early on Sunday, from an altitude of more than 67,000 miles (108,000 kilometres), around four hours before its landing.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Asteroid dust on its way to Utah</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/asteroid-dust-on-its-way-to-utah-638989/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>After the tire-sized capsule touched down in Utah, it was placed in a net by a team in protective masks and gloves from where it was airlifted by helicopter to a temporary "clean room" nearby.</p>

<p>The sample will be sent to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston on Monday. The box will be opened by the specialists in another "clean room."</p>

<p>The first results of the sample testing will be announced by NASA in a news conference on October 11.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>You can&nbsp;<strong>now write for&nbsp;wionews.com</strong>&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>

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After seven years, a space voyage came to its climactic end on Sunday (September 24) as a NASA capsule made a safe landing in the Utah desert of the United States, carrying the largest sample ever collected from an asteroid in space.

After seven years, a space voyage came to its climactic end on Sunday (September 24) as a NASA capsule made a safe landing in the Utah desert of the United States, carrying the largest sample ever collected from an asteroid in space. The capsule made a fiery final descent through the atmosphere of the Earth as expected with the samples collected from asteroid Bennu and parachuted into the Utah desert of the United States. "Touchdown of the Osiris-Rex sample return capsule. A journey of a billion miles to asteroid Bennu and back has come to an end," said a commentator on NASA's live video webcast of the landing. ALSO READ | Asteroid to make its first-ever close approach to Earth! NASA predicts The sample, which was collected from asteroid Bennu in 2020, is estimated to contain some 250 grams (nine ounces) of material by the US space agency, which is more than two previous asteroid specimens which were brought back to the Earth by Japanese missions. Sharing the video of the landing, NASA wrote on X, “TOUCHDOWN! The #OSIRISREx sample capsule landed at the Utah Test and Training Range at 10:52am ET (1452 UTC) after a 3.86-billion mile journey. This marks the US's first sample return mission of its kind and will open a time capsule to the beginnings of our solar system.” TOUCHDOWN! The #OSIRISREx sample capsule landed at the Utah Test and Training Range at 10:52am ET (1452 UTC) after a 3.86-billion mile journey. This marks the US's first sample return mission of its kind and will open a time capsule to the beginnings of our solar system. pic.twitter.com/N8fun14Plt — NASA (@NASA) September 24, 2023 × Scientists have been hopeful about the sample and have said that it is likely to provide them with more information about the solar system and how Earth turned into a habitable place. The probe, which was launched in 2016, landed on the asteroid Bennu after four years and was able to collect around nine ounces (250 grams) of dust from the asteroid's rocky surface. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said that even the small amount of sample should "help us better understand the types of asteroids that could threaten Earth" and cast light "on the earliest history of our solar system.” "This sample return is really historic. This is going to be the biggest sample we've brought back since the Apollo moon rocks were returned to Earth,” said NASA scientist Amy Simon, while speaking to AFP. NASA to announce results of the test on October 11 The capsule was released by Osiris-Rex early on Sunday, from an altitude of more than 67,000 miles (108,000 kilometres), around four hours before its landing. WATCH | Asteroid dust on its way to Utah After the tire-sized capsule touched down in Utah, it was placed in a net by a team in protective masks and gloves from where it was airlifted by helicopter to a temporary "clean room" nearby. The sample will be sent to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston on Monday. The box will be opened by the specialists in another "clean room." The first results of the sample testing will be announced by NASA in a news conference on October 11. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Watch | NASA spacecraft lands successfully in Utah with largest sample collected from asteroid Bennu

<p>In a first, NASA's van-size asteroid chaser Osiris-Rex probe&nbsp;is going to attempt the audacious task of grabbing a piece of asteroid Bennu.</p>

<p>The event marks a potential boon for science, exploration, and the comprehension of the solar system.</p>

<p>It can be watched live on October 20 at around 3:12 p.m. on <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/">NASA TV</a> and will also post it on the agency's website.</p>

<p>The American spacecraft is going to lower itself and manoeuvre for a 'high-five' and deliver a squirt of gas to stir up the surface.</p>

<p>The main goal collect of the mission is to carbon samples from an asteroid, a cosmic body that may have delivered life-giving materials to our planet billions of years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is also expected to&nbsp;shed light on how to find precious resources such as water and metals in asteroids, a field that has generated increasing interest worldwide.</p>

<p>The&nbsp;first-of-its-kind near-Earth asteroid mission had blasted off at 7:05 pm (23:05 GMT) atop an Atlas V rocket in Cape Canaveral, Florida on September 8, 2016.</p>

<p>The robot explorer has been built by Lockheed Martin to carry out the seven-year, $1 billion mission to and from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu.</p>


In a first, NASA's van-size asteroid chaser Osiris-Rex probe is going to attempt the audacious task of grabbing a piece of asteroid Bennu. The event marks a potential boon for science, exploration, and the comprehension of the solar system.

In a first, NASA's van-size asteroid chaser Osiris-Rex probe is going to attempt the audacious task of grabbing a piece of asteroid Bennu. The event marks a potential boon for science, exploration, and the comprehension of the solar system. It can be watched live on October 20 at around 3:12 p.m. on NASA TV and will also post it on the agency's website. The American spacecraft is going to lower itself and manoeuvre for a 'high-five' and deliver a squirt of gas to stir up the surface. The main goal collect of the mission is to carbon samples from an asteroid, a cosmic body that may have delivered life-giving materials to our planet billions of years. It is also expected to shed light on how to find precious resources such as water and metals in asteroids, a field that has generated increasing interest worldwide. The first-of-its-kind near-Earth asteroid mission had blasted off at 7:05 pm (23:05 GMT) atop an Atlas V rocket in Cape Canaveral, Florida on September 8, 2016. The robot explorer has been built by Lockheed Martin to carry out the seven-year, $1 billion mission to and from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu.

NASA's Osiris-Rex all set to grab a piece of asteroid Bennu

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/nasa-spacecraft-makes-historic-flyby-of-ultima-thule-distant-world-ever-studied-187648">NASA</a>'s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft broke a record after successfully entering into orbit around the asteroid Bennu — the smallest cosmic object ever to be orbited by a spacecraft.</p>

<p>While many on Earth prepared to welcome the New Year, NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, 110 million kilometres away, carried out a single, eight-second burn of its thrusters, NASA said in a statement.</p>

<p>The manoeuvre placed the spacecraft into orbit around the asteroid Bennu.</p>

<p>"The team continued our long string of successes by executing the orbit-insertion manoeuvre perfectly," said Dante Lauretta, OSIRIS-REx principal investigator at the University of Arizona in the US.</p>

<p>"With the navigation campaign coming to an end, we are looking forward to the scientific mapping and sample site selection phase of the mission," said Lauretta.</p>

<p>"Entering orbit around Bennu is an amazing accomplishment that our team has been planning for years," he said.</p>

<p>Inching around the asteroid at a snail's pace, OSIRIS-REx's first orbit marks a leap for humankind. Never before has a spacecraft from Earth circled so close to such a small space object — one with barely enough gravity to keep a vehicle in a stable orbit.</p>

<p>"The gravity of Bennu is so small, forces like solar radiation and thermal pressure from Bennu's surface become much more relevant and can push the spacecraft around in its orbit much more than if it were orbiting around Earth or Mars, where gravity is by far the most dominant force," said Dan Wibben, OSIRIS-REx Maneuver and Trajectory Design Lead.</p>

<p>The spacecraft will circle Bennu about 1.75 kilometres from its centre, closer than any other spacecraft has come to its celestial object of study.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Previously the closest orbit of a planetary body was in May 2016, when the Rosetta spacecraft orbited about seven kilometres from the centre of the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.</p>

<p>The comfortable distance is necessary to keep the spacecraft locked to Bennu, which has a gravity force only 5-millionths as strong as Earth's. The spacecraft is scheduled to orbit Bennu through mid-February at a leisurely 62 hours per orbit.</p>

<p>Now that the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is closer to Bennu, physical details about the asteroid will leap into sharper focus, and the spacecraft's tour of this rubble pile of primordial debris will become increasingly detailed and focused.</p>

<p>"Our orbit design is highly dependent on Bennu's physical properties, such as its mass and gravity field, which we didn't know before we arrived," said OSIRIS-REx's flight dynamics system manager Mike Moreau, who is based at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in the US.</p>

<p>"Up until now, we had to account for a wide variety of possible scenarios in our computer simulations to make sure we could safely navigate the spacecraft so close to Bennu. As the team learned more about the asteroid, we incorporated new information to hone in on the final orbit design," he said.</p>

<p>The simulations have played a critical role. The OSIRIS-REx mission, after all, was designed based on complex computer programs that predicted the properties of Bennu and how the spacecraft's trajectory would behave.</p>

<p>This diligent preparation allowed the team to navigate the vehicle safely to Bennu in December and put some questions to rest and to fly over its poles and equator in a preliminary survey that led to some surprises.</p>

<p>The OSIRIS-REx team will resume science operations in late February. At that point, the spacecraft will perform a series of close flybys of Bennu for several months to take high-resolution images of every square inch of the asteroid to help select a sampling site.&nbsp;</p>

<p>During the summer of 2020, the spacecraft will briefly touch the surface of Bennu to retrieve a sample. The OSIRIS-REx mission is scheduled to deliver the sample to Earth in September 2023.</p>


The spacecraft will circle the asteroid Bennu about 1.75 kilometres from its centre, closer than any other spacecraft has come to its celestial object of study.

NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft broke a record after successfully entering into orbit around the asteroid Bennu — the smallest cosmic object ever to be orbited by a spacecraft. While many on Earth prepared to welcome the New Year, NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, 110 million kilometres away, carried out a single, eight-second burn of its thrusters, NASA said in a statement. The manoeuvre placed the spacecraft into orbit around the asteroid Bennu. "The team continued our long string of successes by executing the orbit-insertion manoeuvre perfectly," said Dante Lauretta, OSIRIS-REx principal investigator at the University of Arizona in the US. "With the navigation campaign coming to an end, we are looking forward to the scientific mapping and sample site selection phase of the mission," said Lauretta. "Entering orbit around Bennu is an amazing accomplishment that our team has been planning for years," he said. Inching around the asteroid at a snail's pace, OSIRIS-REx's first orbit marks a leap for humankind. Never before has a spacecraft from Earth circled so close to such a small space object — one with barely enough gravity to keep a vehicle in a stable orbit. "The gravity of Bennu is so small, forces like solar radiation and thermal pressure from Bennu's surface become much more relevant and can push the spacecraft around in its orbit much more than if it were orbiting around Earth or Mars, where gravity is by far the most dominant force," said Dan Wibben, OSIRIS-REx Maneuver and Trajectory Design Lead. The spacecraft will circle Bennu about 1.75 kilometres from its centre, closer than any other spacecraft has come to its celestial object of study. Previously the closest orbit of a planetary body was in May 2016, when the Rosetta spacecraft orbited about seven kilometres from the centre of the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. The comfortable distance is necessary to keep the spacecraft locked to Bennu, which has a gravity force only 5-millionths as strong as Earth's. The spacecraft is scheduled to orbit Bennu through mid-February at a leisurely 62 hours per orbit. Now that the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is closer to Bennu, physical details about the asteroid will leap into sharper focus, and the spacecraft's tour of this rubble pile of primordial debris will become increasingly detailed and focused. "Our orbit design is highly dependent on Bennu's physical properties, such as its mass and gravity field, which we didn't know before we arrived," said OSIRIS-REx's flight dynamics system manager Mike Moreau, who is based at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in the US. "Up until now, we had to account for a wide variety of possible scenarios in our computer simulations to make sure we could safely navigate the spacecraft so close to Bennu. As the team learned more about the asteroid, we incorporated new information to hone in on the final orbit design," he said. The simulations have played a critical role. The OSIRIS-REx mission, after all, was designed based on complex computer programs that predicted the properties of Bennu and how the spacecraft's trajectory would behave. This diligent preparation allowed the team to navigate the vehicle safely to Bennu in December and put some questions to rest and to fly over its poles and equator in a preliminary survey that led to some surprises. The OSIRIS-REx team will resume science operations in late February. At that point, the spacecraft will perform a series of close flybys of Bennu for several months to take high-resolution images of every square inch of the asteroid to help select a sampling site. During the summer of 2020, the spacecraft will briefly touch the surface of Bennu to retrieve a sample. The OSIRIS-REx mission is scheduled to deliver the sample to Earth in September 2023.

NASA spacecraft breaks record for smallest space object ever orbited

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/nasa-rocket-to-image-earths-leaky-atmosphere-180849">&nbsp;NASA'</a>s deep space explorer Osiris-Rex flew on Monday to within a dozen miles of its destination, a skyscraper-sized asteroid believed to hold organic compounds fundamental to life as well as the potential to collide with Earth in about 150 years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Launched in September 2016, Osiris-Rex embarked on NASA's unprecedented seven-year mission to conduct a close-up survey of the asteroid Bennu, collect a sample from its surface and return that material to Earth for study.</p>

<p>Bennu, a rocky mass roughly a third of a mile wide and shaped like a giant acorn, orbits the sun at roughly the same distance as Earth and is thought to be rich in carbon-based organic molecules dating back to the earliest days of the solar system. Water, another vital component to the evolution of life, may also be trapped in the asteroid's minerals.</p>

<p>Scientists believe that asteroids and comets crashing into early Earth delivered organic compounds and water that seeded the planet for life, and atomic-level analysis of samples from Bennu could help prove that theory.</p>

<p>But there is another, more existential reason to study Bennu.</p>

<p>Scientists estimate there is a one-in-2,700 chance of the asteroid slamming catastrophically into Earth 166 years from now. That probability ranks Bennu No. 2 on NASA's catalog of 72 near-Earth objects potentially capable of hitting the planet.</p>

<p>Osiris-Rex will help scientists understand how heat radiated from the sun is gently steering Bennu on an increasingly menacing course through the solar system. That solar energy is believed to be nudging the asteroid ever closer toward Earth's path each time the asteroid makes its closest approach to our planet every six years.</p>

<p>"By the time we collect the sample in 2020 we will have a much better idea of the probability that Bennu would impact Earth in the next 150 years," mission spokeswoman Erin Morton said.</p>

<p>Scientists have estimated that in 2135 Bennu could pass closer to Earth than the moon, which orbits at a distance of about 250,000 miles, and possibly come closer still sometime between 2175 and 2195.</p>

<p>Osiris-Rex reached the "preliminary survey" phase of its mission on Monday, soaring to within 12 miles of the asteroid. The spacecraft will pass just 1.2 miles from Bennu in late December, where it will enter the object's gravitational pull.</p>

<p>From that stage, the spacecraft will begin gradually tightening its orbit around the asteroid, spiraling to within just 6 feet of its surface. Osiris-Rex will then extend its robot arm to snatch a sample of Bennu's terrain in a "touch-and-go" maneuver set for July 2020.</p>

<p>Osiris-Rex will later fly back to Earth, jettisoning a capsule bearing the asteroid specimen for a parachute descent in the Utah desert in September 2023.</p>

<p>NASA is developing a strategy for deflecting Bennu, or any other asteroid found to be on a collision course with Earth, by use of a special spacecraft to slam into the object hard enough to nudge it onto a safer path, said Lindley Johnson, a planetary defence officer with NASA's Science Mission Directorate.</p>

<p>"But this is all dependent on the outcome of a very close approach that Bennu has with Earth in September 2135," Johnson said. "We’ll just need to wait and see. Rather, our great-great-grandchildren will need to see."</p>


NASA's deep space explorer Osiris-Rex flew on Monday to within a dozen miles of its destination, a skyscraper-sized asteroid believed to hold organic compounds fundamental to life as well as the potential to collide with Earth in about 150 years.

NASA's deep space explorer Osiris-Rex flew on Monday to within a dozen miles of its destination, a skyscraper-sized asteroid believed to hold organic compounds fundamental to life as well as the potential to collide with Earth in about 150 years. Launched in September 2016, Osiris-Rex embarked on NASA's unprecedented seven-year mission to conduct a close-up survey of the asteroid Bennu, collect a sample from its surface and return that material to Earth for study. Bennu, a rocky mass roughly a third of a mile wide and shaped like a giant acorn, orbits the sun at roughly the same distance as Earth and is thought to be rich in carbon-based organic molecules dating back to the earliest days of the solar system. Water, another vital component to the evolution of life, may also be trapped in the asteroid's minerals. Scientists believe that asteroids and comets crashing into early Earth delivered organic compounds and water that seeded the planet for life, and atomic-level analysis of samples from Bennu could help prove that theory. But there is another, more existential reason to study Bennu. Scientists estimate there is a one-in-2,700 chance of the asteroid slamming catastrophically into Earth 166 years from now. That probability ranks Bennu No. 2 on NASA's catalog of 72 near-Earth objects potentially capable of hitting the planet. Osiris-Rex will help scientists understand how heat radiated from the sun is gently steering Bennu on an increasingly menacing course through the solar system. That solar energy is believed to be nudging the asteroid ever closer toward Earth's path each time the asteroid makes its closest approach to our planet every six years. "By the time we collect the sample in 2020 we will have a much better idea of the probability that Bennu would impact Earth in the next 150 years," mission spokeswoman Erin Morton said. Scientists have estimated that in 2135 Bennu could pass closer to Earth than the moon, which orbits at a distance of about 250,000 miles, and possibly come closer still sometime between 2175 and 2195. Osiris-Rex reached the "preliminary survey" phase of its mission on Monday, soaring to within 12 miles of the asteroid. The spacecraft will pass just 1.2 miles from Bennu in late December, where it will enter the object's gravitational pull. From that stage, the spacecraft will begin gradually tightening its orbit around the asteroid, spiraling to within just 6 feet of its surface. Osiris-Rex will then extend its robot arm to snatch a sample of Bennu's terrain in a "touch-and-go" maneuver set for July 2020. Osiris-Rex will later fly back to Earth, jettisoning a capsule bearing the asteroid specimen for a parachute descent in the Utah desert in September 2023. NASA is developing a strategy for deflecting Bennu, or any other asteroid found to be on a collision course with Earth, by use of a special spacecraft to slam into the object hard enough to nudge it onto a safer path, said Lindley Johnson, a planetary defence officer with NASA's Science Mission Directorate. "But this is all dependent on the outcome of a very close approach that Bennu has with Earth in September 2135," Johnson said. "We’ll just need to wait and see. Rather, our great-great-grandchildren will need to see."

NASA deep space probe reaches asteroid deemed potential Earth threat

<p>Experts have predicted a small possibility of an asteroid hitting Earth in September 2135. The asteroid is likely to be the size of the Empire State Building and may cause significant damage to life and property on the planet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A team of experts from NASA has already put a plan in place to avert the mishap. The asteroid, called Bennu, will be pushed out of Earth&#39;s orbit using a nuclear device -- a nearly nine-ton &quot;bulk impactor&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA&#39;s &nbsp;Planetary Defense Coordination Office aims at detecting dangerous asteroids and comets that threaten Earth&#39;s orbit. The space research agency also has a HAMMER (Hypervelocity Asteroid Mitigation Mission for Emergency Response) scheme in place for similar purposes.</p>

<p>But, should the mankind be scared of facing extinction once Bennu hits? Experts don&#39;t think so. The odds of the steroid actually hitting Earth are dismal&nbsp;-- about 1 in 2,700, plus its size is not big enough to pack up the entire race as it happened for the mighty dinosaurs.&nbsp;</p>


The asteroid, called Bennu, will be pushed out of Earth's orbit using a nuclear device -- a nearly nine-ton 'bulk impactor'

Experts have predicted a small possibility of an asteroid hitting Earth in September 2135. The asteroid is likely to be the size of the Empire State Building and may cause significant damage to life and property on the planet. A team of experts from NASA has already put a plan in place to avert the mishap. The asteroid, called Bennu, will be pushed out of Earth's orbit using a nuclear device -- a nearly nine-ton "bulk impactor". NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office aims at detecting dangerous asteroids and comets that threaten Earth's orbit. The space research agency also has a HAMMER (Hypervelocity Asteroid Mitigation Mission for Emergency Response) scheme in place for similar purposes. But, should the mankind be scared of facing extinction once Bennu hits? Experts don't think so. The odds of the steroid actually hitting Earth are dismal -- about 1 in 2,700, plus its size is not big enough to pack up the entire race as it happened for the mighty dinosaurs.

NASA plans to avert asteroid that may hit Earth in 2135

<p>A first-of-its kind near-Earth asteroid mission launched by US space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) lifted off today to collect carbon samples from an asteroid, a cosmic body that may have delivered life-giving materials to our planet billions of years.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The unmanned spacecraft, OSIRIS-REx, blasted off at 7:05 pm (23:05 GMT) atop an Atlas V rocket in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The robot explorer has been built by Lockheed Martin to carry out the seven-year, $1 billion mission to and from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu.<br />
<br />
Scientists hope the seven-year round mission will be able to clues about how life began.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I&#39;m speeding toward my rendezvous with an <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/asteroid?src=hash">#asteroid</a>: <a href="https://t.co/jAiVKk0Fwf">https://t.co/jAiVKk0Fwf</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ToBennuAndBack?src=hash">#ToBennuAndBack</a> <a href="https://t.co/IIEkZdbcX3">pic.twitter.com/IIEkZdbcX3</a></p>
&mdash; OSIRIS-REx (@OSIRISREx) <a href="https://twitter.com/OSIRISREx/status/774068297264406528">September 9, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

<p><br />
&quot;As the spacecraft soared high above the western tip of Australia, OSIRIS-REx has reached Earth-escape velocity of more than 22,000 miles (35,400 kilometers) per hour,&quot; NASA spokesman Mike Curie said an hour after takeoff, according to AFP.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
It is flying free on its way to a seven-year mission to rendezvous with the asteroid Bennu and return a sample to Earth.<br />
<br />
The 3,300-pound (1,500-kg) solar-powered probe separated from the rocket&#39;s upper stage an hour after blastoff, is soaring into space at a speed which is 28 times more than speed of the sound.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
&quot;For primitive, carbon-rich asteroids like Bennu, materials are preserved from over four and a half billion years ago,&quot; explained Christina Richey, OSIRIS-REx deputy program scientist at NASA.<br />
<br />
These &quot;may be the precursors to life in Earth or elsewhere in our solar system.&quot;<br />
<br />
OSIRIS-REx&#39;s main goal is to gather dirt and debris from the surface of the asteroid and return it to Earth by 2023 for further study.<br />
<br />
Learning more about the origins of life and the beginning of the solar system are key objectives for the SUV-sized OSIRIS-REx, which stands for Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security-Regolith Explorer.<br />
<br />
The mission should also shed light on how to find precious resources such as water and metals in asteroids, a field that has generated increasing interest worldwide, AFP news agency said.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
&quot;We are going to map this brand-new world that we have never seen before,&quot; Dante Lauretta, OSIRIS-REx principal investigator and professor at the University of Arizona, Tucson, has been quoted as saying by AFP.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">&quot;This represents the hopes and dreams, blood, sweat and tears of thousands of people who have worked on this mission.&quot; - <a href="https://twitter.com/DSLauretta">@DSLauretta</a></p>
&mdash; OSIRIS-REx (@OSIRISREx) <a href="https://twitter.com/OSIRISREx/status/774054881069969408">September 9, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

<p><br />
<br />
(WION with inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</p>


Spacecraft OSIRIS-REx will collect pristine carbon samples from asteroid Bennu. The mission will help in learning about origins of life

A first-of-its kind near-Earth asteroid mission launched by US space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) lifted off today to collect carbon samples from an asteroid, a cosmic body that may have delivered life-giving materials to our planet billions of years. The unmanned spacecraft, OSIRIS-REx, blasted off at 7:05 pm (23:05 GMT) atop an Atlas V rocket in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The robot explorer has been built by Lockheed Martin to carry out the seven-year, $1 billion mission to and from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu. Scientists hope the seven-year round mission will be able to clues about how life began. I'm speeding toward my rendezvous with an #asteroid: https://t.co/jAiVKk0Fwf #ToBennuAndBack pic.twitter.com/IIEkZdbcX3 — OSIRIS-REx (@OSIRISREx) September 9, 2016 "As the spacecraft soared high above the western tip of Australia, OSIRIS-REx has reached Earth-escape velocity of more than 22,000 miles (35,400 kilometers) per hour," NASA spokesman Mike Curie said an hour after takeoff, according to AFP. It is flying free on its way to a seven-year mission to rendezvous with the asteroid Bennu and return a sample to Earth. The 3,300-pound (1,500-kg) solar-powered probe separated from the rocket's upper stage an hour after blastoff, is soaring into space at a speed which is 28 times more than speed of the sound. "For primitive, carbon-rich asteroids like Bennu, materials are preserved from over four and a half billion years ago," explained Christina Richey, OSIRIS-REx deputy program scientist at NASA. These "may be the precursors to life in Earth or elsewhere in our solar system." OSIRIS-REx's main goal is to gather dirt and debris from the surface of the asteroid and return it to Earth by 2023 for further study. Learning more about the origins of life and the beginning of the solar system are key objectives for the SUV-sized OSIRIS-REx, which stands for Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security-Regolith Explorer. The mission should also shed light on how to find precious resources such as water and metals in asteroids, a field that has generated increasing interest worldwide, AFP news agency said. "We are going to map this brand-new world that we have never seen before," Dante Lauretta, OSIRIS-REx principal investigator and professor at the University of Arizona, Tucson, has been quoted as saying by AFP. "This represents the hopes and dreams, blood, sweat and tears of thousands of people who have worked on this mission." - @DSLauretta — OSIRIS-REx (@OSIRISREx) September 9, 2016 (WION with inputs from agencies)

NASA's first-of-its kind near-Earth asteroid mission lifts off

In a first, US space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is all set to launch a near-Earth asteroid mission to collect pristine carbon samples and shed light on the &quot;dawn of the solar system&quot;.<br />
<br />
The Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security- Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft will travel to a near-Earth asteroid, called Bennu (formerly 1999 RQ36), and bring at least a 2.1-ounce sample back to Earth for study, according to NASA.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
According the space agency, the $800 mn mission &quot;will help scientists investigate how planets formed and how life began, as well as improve our understanding of asteroids that could impact Earth.&quot;&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The official Twitter account for the ambitious mission remains abuzz with updates ahead of the launch. Social media users have got their queries answered using the #askNASA hashtag&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;
<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Bennu was chosen due to its accessibility from Earth, size &amp; carbon-rich composition. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/askNASA?src=hash">#askNASA</a> <a href="https://t.co/r6BS2zRkXy">https://t.co/r6BS2zRkXy</a></p>
&mdash; OSIRIS-REx (@OSIRISREx) <a href="https://twitter.com/OSIRISREx/status/773598852268101632">September 7, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
&nbsp;

<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">REx stands for regolith explorer. Regolith=loose surface material that I will collect from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/asteroid?src=hash">#asteroid</a> Bennu. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/askNASA?src=hash">#askNASA</a> <a href="https://t.co/ISlYJljkmu">https://t.co/ISlYJljkmu</a></p>
&mdash; OSIRIS-REx (@OSIRISREx) <a href="https://twitter.com/OSIRISREx/status/773552218767327232">September 7, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<br />
<br />
The spacecraft is set to blast off Thursday at 7:05 pm (2305 GMT) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, near the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Weather forecasters have said that there is 80 per cent chance of favourable launch of the mission.&nbsp;<br />
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<h5>According the space agency, the $800 mission &quot;will help scientists investigate how planets formed and how life began, as well as improve our understanding of asteroids that could impact Earth.&quot;&nbsp;</h5>
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<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=According the space agency, the $800 mission &quot;will help scientists investigate how planets formed and how life began, as well as improve our understanding of asteroids that could impact Earth.&quot;?

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<strong>&#39;A small mountain in space&#39;</strong><br />
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&quot;The primary objective of the mission is to bring back 60 grams (2.1 ounces) of pristine carbon-rich material from the surface of Bennu,&quot; Dante Lauretta, principal investigator of the mission and a professor of planetary science at the University of Arizona, was quoted as saying by AFP.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
&quot;We expect these samples will contain organic molecules from the early solar system that may give us information and clues to the origin of life.&quot;<br />
<br />
OSIRIX-REx, &nbsp;about 1,600 feet (492 meters) in diameter, is expected to reach Bennu in August 2018 and return to Earth with its bounty in 2023. &quot;Think of it as a small mountain in space,&quot; Lauretta said.<br />
<br />
According to NASA estimates, the asetroid&#39;s 1.2-year orbit around the sun brings it closer to Earth every six years at a distance similar to the moon, although there is very little chance Bennu could collide with Earth.<br />
<br />
NASA Scientists estimate there is a one-in-800 chance that Bennu might actually hit Earth 166 years from now.&nbsp;The highest probability, one in 2,500, would occur between 2175 and 2196.<br />
<br />
The space agency points out that asteroids are remnants of the building blocks that formed the planets and enabled life and &quot;those like Bennu contain natural resources such as water, organics and metals.&quot;&nbsp;
<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Very slim. It&#39;s only a 1 in 2700 chance that Bennu could collide with Earth in the next few hundred years. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/askNASA?src=hash">#askNASA</a> <a href="https://t.co/0nxtO7eKf5">https://t.co/0nxtO7eKf5</a></p>
&mdash; OSIRIS-REx (@OSIRISREx) <a href="https://twitter.com/OSIRISREx/status/773579348930682880">7 September 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<br />
<strong>Rendezvouz with the asteroid&nbsp;</strong><br />
<br />
According to a fact sheet provided by NASA, the spacecraft &quot;will orbit the sun for a year, then use Earth&rsquo;s gravitational field to assist it on its way to Bennu&quot;.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
&quot;In August 2018, OSIRIS-REx&rsquo;s approach to Bennu will begin. It will use an array of small rocket thrusters to match the velocity of Bennu and rendezvous with the asteroid,&quot; the fact sheet says.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
&quot;&#39;The spacecraft will begin a detailed survey of Bennu two months after slowing to encounter Bennu. The process will last over a year, and, as part of it, OSIRIS-REx will map potential sample sites.&quot;&nbsp;<br />
<br />
After the mission is completed, the spcacraft will not return. It will be placed in a solar orbit.&nbsp;
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<h5>&nbsp;</h5>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">After I return my sample, I&#39;ll be put in a solar orbit. There&#39;s no 2nd mission planned, but I&#39;ll be ready. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/askNASA?src=hash">#askNASA</a> <a href="https://t.co/WstUtp3kYe">https://t.co/WstUtp3kYe</a></p>
&mdash; OSIRIS-REx (@OSIRISREx) <a href="https://twitter.com/OSIRISREx/status/773560895385571332">7 September 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></blockquote>
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(WION with inputs from agencies)&nbsp;<br />
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Scientists are hopeful that the seven-year, $800 mn mission will reveal something about the origins of the Bennu asteroid and of life itself

In a first, US space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is all set to launch a near-Earth asteroid mission to collect pristine carbon samples and shed light on the "dawn of the solar system". The Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security- Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft will travel to a near-Earth asteroid, called Bennu (formerly 1999 RQ36), and bring at least a 2.1-ounce sample back to Earth for study, according to NASA. According the space agency, the $800 mn mission "will help scientists investigate how planets formed and how life began, as well as improve our understanding of asteroids that could impact Earth." The official Twitter account for the ambitious mission remains abuzz with updates ahead of the launch. Social media users have got their queries answered using the #askNASA hashtag Bennu was chosen due to its accessibility from Earth, size & carbon-rich composition. #askNASA https://t.co/r6BS2zRkXy — OSIRIS-REx (@OSIRISREx) September 7, 2016 REx stands for regolith explorer. Regolith=loose surface material that I will collect from #asteroid Bennu. #askNASA https://t.co/ISlYJljkmu — OSIRIS-REx (@OSIRISREx) September 7, 2016 The spacecraft is set to blast off Thursday at 7:05 pm (2305 GMT) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, near the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Weather forecasters have said that there is 80 per cent chance of favourable launch of the mission. According the space agency, the $800 mission "will help scientists investigate how planets formed and how life began, as well as improve our understanding of asteroids that could impact Earth." 'A small mountain in space' "The primary objective of the mission is to bring back 60 grams (2.1 ounces) of pristine carbon-rich material from the surface of Bennu," Dante Lauretta, principal investigator of the mission and a professor of planetary science at the University of Arizona, was quoted as saying by AFP. "We expect these samples will contain organic molecules from the early solar system that may give us information and clues to the origin of life." OSIRIX-REx, about 1,600 feet (492 meters) in diameter, is expected to reach Bennu in August 2018 and return to Earth with its bounty in 2023. "Think of it as a small mountain in space," Lauretta said. According to NASA estimates, the asetroid's 1.2-year orbit around the sun brings it closer to Earth every six years at a distance similar to the moon, although there is very little chance Bennu could collide with Earth. NASA Scientists estimate there is a one-in-800 chance that Bennu might actually hit Earth 166 years from now. The highest probability, one in 2,500, would occur between 2175 and 2196. The space agency points out that asteroids are remnants of the building blocks that formed the planets and enabled life and "those like Bennu contain natural resources such as water, organics and metals." Very slim. It's only a 1 in 2700 chance that Bennu could collide with Earth in the next few hundred years. #askNASA https://t.co/0nxtO7eKf5 — OSIRIS-REx (@OSIRISREx) 7 September 2016 Rendezvouz with the asteroid According to a fact sheet provided by NASA, the spacecraft "will orbit the sun for a year, then use Earth’s gravitational field to assist it on its way to Bennu". "In August 2018, OSIRIS-REx’s approach to Bennu will begin. It will use an array of small rocket thrusters to match the velocity of Bennu and rendezvous with the asteroid," the fact sheet says. "'The spacecraft will begin a detailed survey of Bennu two months after slowing to encounter Bennu. The process will last over a year, and, as part of it, OSIRIS-REx will map potential sample sites." After the mission is completed, the spcacraft will not return. It will be placed in a solar orbit. After I return my sample, I'll be put in a solar orbit. There's no 2nd mission planned, but I'll be ready. #askNASA https://t.co/WstUtp3kYe — OSIRIS-REx (@OSIRISREx) 7 September 2016 (WION with inputs from agencies)

Towards the dawn of the solar system: NASA set to launch near-Earth asteroid mission

bennu

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