The OSIRIS-REx mission was launched in 2016 with the aim of taking samples from asteroid 101955 Bennu. It is the first attempt to analyze the composition of an asteroid while it is still in space. After seven years of launch, this asteroid sample yesterday returned to earth early this morning.
The sample was collected on October 20 last year and the capsule containing sample 101955 Bennu has been traveling back to Earth since then. The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is now on its way to orbit the sun. The capsule landed using a parachute system at the US Department of Defense Test and Training area in Utah. It was then taken to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.
A total of 250 grams of samples are believed to have been successfully collected by this mission. Since it was taken it was stored in a chamber filled with nitrogen to ensure no contamination of the sample. Through it scientists want to learn more about the origin of organic matter and water and learn more about the dangers that may be encountered on the surface of asteroids. Asteroid mining is one of the missions that have been proposed to meet the needs of the earth's resources in the future.