In a historic first, NASA has returned asteroid samples to Earth. The spacecraft OSIRIS-REx touched down in the Utah desert on September 25, 2023, carrying a capsule containing a small sample of asteroid Bennu.
The sample is expected to weigh about 2 ounces (60 grams), and it is the largest asteroid sample ever returned to Earth. It will be studied by scientists around the world to learn more about the formation and evolution of asteroids, as well as the potential for life beyond Earth.
OSIRIS-REx launched in 2016 and arrived at Bennu in 2018. It spent two years orbiting the asteroid and studying its surface. In October 2020, OSIRIS-REx extended a robotic arm and touched down on Bennu’s surface to collect a sample.
After collecting the sample, OSIRIS-REx began its journey back to Earth. The spacecraft traveled billions of miles and made a flyby of Earth in September 2021 to release the sample capsule. The capsule then traveled the rest of the way to Earth on its own and landed safely in the Utah desert.
The return of asteroid samples to Earth is a major milestone in space exploration. It will allow scientists to study asteroids in much greater detail than ever before and could lead to new discoveries about the origins of our solar system and the potential for life beyond Earth.
Here are some of the potential benefits of studying the asteroid sample:
- Scientists can learn more about the formation and evolution of asteroids, which are thought to be the building blocks of planets.
- The sample could contain organic molecules, which are the building blocks of life. This could help scientists to understand how life arose in the universe and whether it is possible for life to exist on other asteroids or planets.
- The sample could also contain minerals that are valuable for mining. This could lead to new opportunities for space resource utilization.
The return of asteroid samples to Earth is a major achievement for NASA and for science as a whole. It is a testament to the ingenuity and dedication of the NASA team and to the power of international cooperation. The study of the asteroid sample is expected to lead to new discoveries about our place in the universe and our potential future in space.
