NASA's Historic Mission: Unveiling Unprecedented Asteroid Samples

Scientists are excited about the initial assessment of asteroid samples returned by NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, which showed evidence of water and a high abundance of carbon. The samples, obtained from the asteroid Bennu, are expected to help scientists understand the formation of the solar system and the building blocks of life on Earth. The analysis was based on a small amount of material, and efforts to open the sampling head are being slowed down by the presence of an unexpected "extra bonus sample." The exact amount of material returned is still unknown, but initial results have already thrilled the scientists involved in the mission. The overall process of curating the samples will take two years, with some samples being transferred to partner agencies and others preserved for future study.