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Solar System

First Look at Material from Asteroid Bennu on the Ground

The Osiris-REX sample collection team reveals the first look at material collected from the asteroid Bennu.

Bennu sample return capsule on the ground in the desert, red-white parachute behind

Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson

Osiris-REX Capsule Returns Samples of Asteroid Bennu to Earth

Samples taken from the asteroid Bennu are now safely on Earth.

A diamond-shaped grey asteroid with ridges, holes, and craters in it, against a black background

Solar System

Rubble-Pile Asteroid Bennu Has Layers

The asteroid Bennu is a so-called rubble pile, but new results from NASA's OSIRIS-Rex mission indicate this heap of rubble has layers.

A diamond-shaped grey asteroid with ridges, holes, and craters in it, against a black background

Solar System

Asteroid Bennu Almost Swallowed Spacecraft Whole

Scientists knew the asteroid Bennu was likely a rubble pile rather than solid rock, but OSIRIS-REX's recent visit surprised them in showing just how loosely the asteroid really is.

Osiris-APEX

Solar System

New Target for Asteroid Probe: “Potentially Hazardous” Apophis

Once the primary mission of NASA's OSIRIS-REx is complete, the spacecraft will head toward a new destination: near-Earth asteroid Apophis.

A diamond-shaped grey asteroid with ridges, holes, and craters in it, against a black background

Solar System

Don’t Worry About Bennu (Yet)

Careful measurements using the OSIRIS-REX spacecraft have refined astronomers’ predictions for how likely it is that this potentially hazardous asteroid will strike Earth.

osiris-rex departs

Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson

NASA's OSIRIS-REX Leaves Asteroid Bennu, Heads for Home

NASA’s asteroid explorer has begun its long journey home with precious cargo onboard: samples of the asteroid Bennu.

Solar System

NASA's Osiris-REX Has Stowed Its Bite Out of Asteroid Bennu

NASA’s Osiris-REX successfully stowed its sample of Bennu's regolith, collected earlier this week. Images show a good haul.

TAG Osiris-REX

Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson

Osiris-REX "TAGs" Bennu, Returns Stunning Views

See images and video from NASA’s Osiris-REX spacecraft as it samples the Nightingale site.

OSIRIS-Rex

Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson

Osiris-REX Successfully Collected Sample from Asteroid Bennu

NASA's Osiris-REX mission has successfully touched down on the asteroid Bennu to collect a sample of its surface for return to Earth.

Global false-color map of Bennu

Solar System

Osiris-REX Finds Some of Solar System's Oldest Rocks on Bennu

NASA's Osiris-REX mission has found evidence of ancient water flows on the surface of asteroid Bennu.

Osiris-rex

Solar System

NASA Announces Site of Sample Selection for Osiris-REX

NASA has picked the "Nightingale" site, located within a small crater on the asteroid Bennu, for its Osiris-REX mission to sample next year.

bennu activity

Solar System

Asteroid Bennu’s Activity Still a Mystery

The near-Earth asteroid constantly shoots out rocks, leaving planetary scientists perplexed.

Solar System

NASA Selects Final Four Asteroid Landing Sites for Osiris-REX

The Osiris-REX spacecraft will sample one of four sites on the asteroid Bennu in July 2020.

Asteroid Bennu

Solar System

Bumpy Road Ahead For NASA’s Osiris-REX

Asteroid Bennu is turning out to be a hazardous place for the NASA spacecraft to sample: It has uneven, rugged terrain and occasionally even hurls rocks into space.

Image of Bennu

Solar System

Osiris-REX Finds Hints of Past Water on Asteroid Bennu

The NASA spacecraft detected signs of hydrated minerals on Bennu's surface, suggesting that the asteroid's larger parent body once hosted liquid water.

Bennu

Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson

Osiris-REX Arrives at Asteroid Bennu

NASA's ambitious Osiris-REX mission will now spend the next couple years surveying Bennu before attempting to return a sample to Earth.

Asteroid Bennu

Space Missions

Osiris-REX's First Views of Asteroid Bennu

NASA's Osiris-REX asteroid sample return mission spies target Bennu for the first time. Now the spacecraft is setting up for its close approach in December.

OSIRIS-REX's view of Earth

Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson

Osiris-REX Images Earth During Flyby

The asteroid-bound Osiris-REX mission took time during last Friday's gravity assist maneuver to look back at its homeworld.

osiris-rex

Space Missions

Osiris-REX to Fly by Earth on Friday

NASA's ambitious Osiris-REX asteroid sample return mission swings by Earth this Friday for a gravity assist en route to asteroid 101955 Bennu.