Scientists believe the sample of carbon-rich asteroid Bennu might contain clues to the origins of organics and water that could have led to life on Earth.
OSIRIS-REx is an acronym for Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer. / Photo: AFP
Travelling at about 44,500 km per hour as it enters the atmosphere, the mission’s spacecraft will release a capsule containing a sample of rock and dust from asteroid Bennu, and land in the Utah desert, where scientists are eagerly awaiting to retrieve it. The sample return capsule is due to touch down at 8:55 a.m. MDT . Estimated to hold about half a pound of Bennu’s material, or 250 grams +/- 101 grams, this is the largest asteroid sample ever received on Earth.