OSIRIS-REx: NASA's Mission to Return a Sample from an Asteroid

OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer) is a NASA mission to study and collect a sample from the asteroid Bennu. Bennu is a near-Earth asteroid that is thought to be rich in organic matter and other materials that could provide insights into the early solar system.

OSIRIS-REx launched in September 2016 and arrived at Bennu in December 2018. The spacecraft spent the next two years mapping and studying the asteroid. In October 2020, OSIRIS-REx extended its robotic arm and touched Bennu's surface, collecting a sample of the asteroid's regolith (loose surface material).

OSIRIS-REx is currently on its way back to Earth, and is scheduled to deliver its sample in September 2023. The sample will be studied by scientists from around the world, and could provide new insights into the formation and evolution of asteroids and the solar system.

The OSIRIS-REx mission is a significant achievement for NASA. It is the first time that NASA has collected a sample from an asteroid and returned it to Earth. The mission is also expected to provide valuable scientific data that will help scientists better understand the early solar system and the potential for asteroids to harbor resources that could be used in the future.

Here are some of the key findings from the OSIRIS-REx mission so far:

• Bennu is a very diverse asteroid, with a wide range of surface features.

• Bennu is rich in organic matter, which could be the building blocks of life.

• Bennu is also rich in water ice, which could be used as a resource for future space missions.

• Bennu has a very active surface, with boulders and other features moving frequently.

• Bennu is a potential hazard to Earth, and there is a small chance that it could collide with our planet in the next few million years.

The OSIRIS-REx mission is still ongoing, and scientists are continuing to analyze the data that has been collected so far. The mission is expected to provide new insights into asteroids and the early solar system for many years to come.