Asteroid & Comet Missions

Latest about Asteroid & Comet Missions

dark dirt and pebbles sit atop a silver metallic ring

NASA's 1st asteroid sample is rich in carbon and water, OSIRIS-REx team finds

By Mike Wall published

The asteroid sample hauled to Earth by NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission contains lots of water and carbon-containing compounds, mission team members announced today (Oct. 11).

Asteroid & Comet Missions
a white spacex falcon heavy rocket is carried horizontally down a track toward the launch pad under a blue sky.

SpaceX rolls out Falcon Heavy rocket for Psyche asteroid mission launch (photos)

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX rolled its powerful Falcon Heavy rocket out to the pad Tuesday (Oct. 10) ahead of the planned Thursday (Oct. 12) liftoff of NASA's Psyche metal asteroid mission.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
technicians in blue 'bunny suits' manipulate a metallic object inside a clean room.

NASA revealing OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample today: Watch it live

By Mike Wall published

During a webcast today (Oct. 10), NASA will unveil the asteroid sample hauled to Earth by its OSIRIS-REx mission last month.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
An artist's visualization video showing the Psyche spacecraft getting closer to the asteroid.

NASA's Psyche metal asteroid mission will have a big impact on astronomy. Here's how

By Monisha Ravisetti published

NASA's launching a spacecraft toward an intriguing metal asteroid on Oct. 12. Here's what we might find on 16 Psyche.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
a small spacecraft with solar panels stretching out at either end like wings approaches an asteroid.

NASA's Psyche metal asteroid mission launches this week: Here's what you need to know

By Robert Lea published

NASA's Psyche spacecraft is set to launch on Oct. 12, beginning its mission to investigate a giant metal asteroid of the same name and unravel the secrets of the early solar system.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
a black and white animation of a cone-shaped capsule being shot into space

OSIRIS-REx watched its asteroid sample capsule head toward Earth (photos)

By Mike Wall published

NASA's OSIRIS-REx asteroid probe captured photos during the release of its return capsule last month, preserving the historic moment for posterity.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
the 27 engines of a spacex falcon heavy rocket are seen up close inside a hangar.

SpaceX fires up Falcon Heavy rocket ahead of Psyche asteroid mission launch

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX fired up its powerful Falcon Heavy rocket on Saturday (Sept. 30) to get it ready to launch NASA's Psyche asteroid mission on Oct. 12.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
illustration of a spacecraft flying over a large asteroid with the blackness of space in the background.

NASA delays launch of Psyche asteroid mission by 1 week, to Oct. 12

By Mike Wall published

The launch of NASA's Psyche mission has been delayed by a week to Oct. 12, so the team can deal with a recently detected thruster issue.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
The sample return capsule from NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission is seen shortly after touching down in the desert, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, at the Department of Defense's Utah Test and Training Range.

NASA's OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return to Earth: Live updates

By Tariq Malik last updated

NASA's OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample-return mission will return pieces of asteroid Bennu to Earth on Sept. 24, 2023. Follow the historic landing live here.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
technicians in white coats work on a shiny silvery spacecraft inside a white-walled room.

SpaceX launch of NASA's Psyche asteroid mission is just 2 weeks away

By Mike Wall published

NASA's Psyche mission is set to launch atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket on Oct. 12.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Archives