New Atlas

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Rugged, eruptive surface of Bennu forces a rethink on asteroid sampling attempt

Nick Lavars March 19, 2019

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is not due to bring home samples from the asteroid Bennu until some time in 2023, but already it is turning up some fascinating discoveries about this distant world, the latest being a far rockier surface than anticipated.

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The target of NASA's asteroid sampling mission seems to be spinning faster and faster

Nick Lavars March 13, 2019

As NASA’s OSIRIS-REx probe starts to really close in on its target, scientists here on Earth have made a surprising discovery about the asteroid Bennu. Newly published research describes how the asteroid is rotating as you might expect, but these rotations appear to be speeding up over time.

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NASA probe makes history as it slips into orbit around asteroid Bennu

Nick Lavars January 1, 2019

A daring mission to sample a distant asteroid is starting to get very interesting, with NASA's OSIRIS-REx probe setting off some New Year's fireworks of its own in an eight-second burn to enter orbit around Bennu.

Rendering of OSIRIS-REx in orbit around the asteroid Bennu

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NASA probe finds water on asteroid Bennu

Michael Irving December 10, 2018

NASA’s asteroid-hunting probe OSIRIS-REx, only arrived at the asteroid Bennu a week ago, and it’s already made a startling discovery. After analyzing data gathered by the craft, the team found that Bennu is rich in water molecules, locked away in clay minerals.

A mosaic image of the asteroid Bennu, snapped by OSIRIS-REx from a distance of 24 km ...

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OSIRIS-Rex spacecraft reaches asteroid Bennu

David Szondy December 3, 2018

After two years and two months of travel across 1.2 billion mi (two billion km), NASA's Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft has reached the asteroid Bennu.

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NASA probe flexes its robotic sampling arm ahead of asteroid encounter

Nick Lavars November 20, 2018

As part of preparations for a highly anticipated asteroid encounter, NASA's OSIRIS-REx probe has successfully carried out an important dress rehearsal starring the robotic arm that will be used to grab samples of dust and rock from the surface.

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NASA's asteroid-hunting spacecraft starts to swoop in on Bennu

Nick Lavars August 21, 2018

The lengthy two-year journey of OSIRIS-REx toward the asteroid Bennu has entered its final leg, with the probe officially beginning the approach phase of its mission. This will see it slowly close in on the chunk of space rock before snatching a sample for scientists to study here on Earth.

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Asteroid probe snaps Mother Earth following successful fly-by

Anthony Wood September 29, 2017

On September 22, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft successfully completed a gravity assist flyby with Earth, which has set the probe on a course to rendezvous with the asteroid Bennu next year. At its closest point, OSIRIS-REx flew within 10,711 miles of Earth's surface.

Color composite image of Earth taken by OSIRIS-REx MapCam soon after the probe completed its flyby ...

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Asteroid hunter to slingshot off Earth's gravity this week

Michael Franco September 21, 2017

For the past year, NASA's OSIRIS-REx satellite has been on a solar orbit in our galaxy, readying itself for its ultimate goal of heading out to the asteroid Bennu and grabbing a sample from its surface. On Friday, Sept 22, it'll finally head off to its target with a little help from Earth's gravity.

If all goes well, the OSIRIS-REx satellite will reach the asteroid Bennu in 2021

Space Feature

Asteroid mining: The race for space riches

David Szondy September 14, 2016

There's gold in them thar asteroids – also iron, nickel, copper and, most valuable of all, water. The question is, where exactly is all this mineral wealth and how do you get it without going broke in the process?

An asteroid mining operation of the future