osiris rex
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Scientists fine-tune odds of asteroid Bennu hitting Earth through 2300 with NASA probe's help
By Meghan Bartels published
If the possibility of an asteroid called Bennu slamming into Earth a lifetime from now was keeping you up at night, NASA scientists think you can rest a little easier.
Farewell, Bennu! NASA spacecraft leaves asteroid to bring pieces of space rock to Earth
By Mike Wall published
The samples will land in Utah in September 2023.
NASA's asteroid-sampling mission will bid farewell to asteroid Bennu today
By Meghan Bartels last updated
After more than two years circling a lumpy space rock called Bennu, it's finally time for NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft to head back to Earth with a full load precious cargo: pieces of an asteroid.
NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft begins its farewell tour of near-Earth asteroid Bennu
By Doris Elin Urrutia last updated
A spacecraft carrying pristine asteroid samples and 4,000 megabytes of data recently flew away from the space rock Bennu.
NASA probe leaving asteroid Bennu in May to deliver samples to Earth
By Mike Wall last updated
NASA's asteroid-sampling OSIRIS-REx probe will spend a couple of extra months at its target space rock before heading back to Earth.
NASA's OSIRIS-REx probe could make a 2nd stop at infamous asteroid Apophis
By Meghan Bartels published
Hot on the heels of successfully snagging hunks of space rock in October, the scientists behind NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission are contemplating sending the spacecraft to study the asteroid Apophis.
We may be in a 'golden age' of sample-return space missions
By Doris Elin Urrutia last updated
Modern astronomy is going through a new chapter of sample-retrieval missions, which started with the Apollo program.
NASA asteroid probe stows space-rock sample for return to Earth
By Mike Wall published
NASA's pioneering OSIRIS-REx probe has bagged up its precious asteroid sample for return to Earth.
NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is tucking away precious asteroid samples for safekeeping
By Meghan Bartels last updated
NASA's asteroid-sampling maneuver last week was so successful that the spacecraft will begin stowing its new souvenirs today (Oct. 27) to avoid losing rock by idling around.
NASA asteroid probe is overflowing with space-rock samples
By Mike Wall last updated
OSIRIS-REx snagged so much dirt and rock from the asteroid Bennu on Tuesday that the probe's sampling mechanism didn't close properly, allowing some of the collected material to escape into space.
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