OSIRIS-REx Slings Orbital Web Around Asteroid to Capture Sample _ 4K

The NASA OSIRIS-REx mission is an ongoing space exploration endeavor that aims to collect a sample from the asteroid Bennu and return it to Earth for scientific study
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. Launched on September 8, 2016, the spacecraft arrived at Bennu on December 3, 2018, and began orbiting the asteroid on December 31, 2018
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. On October 20, 2020, OSIRIS-REx made history by briefly touching down on the surface of Bennu to collect a sample of dust and pebbles
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. The spacecraft is now on its way back to Earth, with the sample expected to be delivered in September 2023
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The mission holds several key dates and milestones:
September 8, 2016: Launch of OSIRIS-REx spacecraft
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December 3, 2018: Arrival at asteroid Bennu
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October 20, 2020: Successful sample collection from Bennu
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May 10, 2021: OSIRIS-REx begins its journey back to Earth
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September 24, 2023: Expected delivery of the sample capsule to Earth
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2029: Extended mission to near-Earth asteroid Apophis begins
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The OSIRIS-REx mission is significant as it is the first U.S. mission to collect a sample from an asteroid
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. The collected sample will provide valuable insights into the formation of the solar system and the composition of asteroids
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. Scientists hope to learn more about the origins of life on Earth and the potential resources that asteroids may hold
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. The mission is part of NASA's New Frontiers Program and is a major endeavor in planetary science
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Overall, the OSIRIS-REx mission represents a remarkable feat of space exploration, with the spacecraft successfully navigating to an asteroid, collecting a sample, and embarking on the journey back to Earth. It holds great promise for advancing our understanding of the solar system and the potential for future asteroid exploration