NASA Makes History After Collecting Asteroid Samples in Space

NASA is once again making history this year after successfully collecting samples from an asteroid. The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft spent nearly two years circling an asteroid named Bennu before it was able to finally carry out it’s mission yesterday afternoon. The craft used it’s robotic arm to gather pieces. It was a carefully orchestrated, almost 5 hour-long maneuver which, upon touchdown, took 16 seconds to complete. The entire event was broadcast live. This is the first time NASA has ever been able to collect samples from an asteroid in space. Now the craft is making its way home, with an expected landing date of September 2023. Scientists are hoping they’ll be able to uncover exciting new insights into the solar system and potential threats to our planet, as well as how celestial bodies could be mined for valuable resources in the future.