Largest asteroid sample - 6th October 2023

Seven years after blasting off from Earth, the Osiris-Rex capsule has returned, landing in the Utah desert. On board - the largest sample ever obtained from an asteroid in space.

"And touchdown of the Osiris-Rex sample return capsule. A journey of a billion miles to asteroid Bennu and back has come to an end."

Weighing just 250 grams, the sample from an asteroid named Bennu sees scientists delighted with the haul. Dante Lauretta's the Osiris-Rex principal investigator.

Dante Lauretta: "So we think we've got a lot of sample in that, in that science canister and we can't wait to, to crack into it. For me, the real science is just beginning."

Scientists have high hopes for the sample, believing it could provide a better understanding of the formation of our solar system and how the Earth became habitable. Keeping the sample free from any contamination is key.

Dante Lauretta: "The key objective for me and one of the driving objectives of this programme, is to try to understand that carbon rich asteroids, like Bennu, deliver the compounds that may have led to the origin of life on our planet. The origin of Earth is a habitable world. And so, we don't want biological organisms interacting with this. So, we plan to exclude it from any contact with bacteria or anything else that might compromise our scientific investigation."

Information garnered from studying the asteroid dust may also assist in safeguarding the Earth. Bennu's regarded as the most dangerous piece of rock in the universe, as it's possible that within the next century it could collide with our planet. It's hoped that by better understanding its composition, measures to divert its path towards us could be taken if needed.

Seventy percent of the asteroid sample will be set aside for future generations of scientists, who with new techniques and new technology, may be able to uncover more of its secrets.

For now, Dante Lauretta's satisfied that his years of work have played their role in obtaining this valuable asteroid sample.

Dante Lauretta: "And then, we heard 'main chute detected', and I literally broke into tears. I mean, and I'm probably gonna do it right now just thinking about it, because that was the moment I knew we made it home. And you know, I'm weary at this point. I've been thinking about this and focusing on it and all of my energy and all my will has gone into making this thing a success. And I knew the moment the chute opened, that was it. We knew what to do from that point forward. There was no surprises left. And it was overwhelming relief, gratitude, pride, awe."