NASA Shows Off Its First Asteroid Samples Delivered By A Spacecraft
This photo provided by NASA on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023 shows the outside of the Osiris-Rex sample collector with material from asteroid Bennu at middle right. Scientists have found evidence of both carbon and water in initial analysis of this material. The bulk of the sample is located inside. (Erika Blumenfeld, Joseph Aebersold/NASA via AP
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA is showing off its first asteroid samples delivered last month by a spacecraft.
Scientists and space agency leaders took part in Wednesday’s big reveal at Johnson Space Center in Houston.
The ancient black dust and chunks are from the carbon-rich asteroid named Bennu, almost 60 million miles away.
A NASA spacecraft scooped up the samples three years ago and then dropped them off during a flyby of Earth last month.
Scientists anticipated at least a cupful of rocks, the most ever brought back from an asteroid.
They’re still not sure how much came back because the main sample container has yet to be opened.
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