After nearly two years of observations, the spacecraft landed on the asteroid andsnagged a sample from its surface.
Collecting bits of an asteroid was a complex task, but other challenges awaited.
Why they did it
This was NASAs first mission to retrieve samples from an asteroid in space.
A view of the outside of the OSIRIS-REx sample collector.Photo: NASA/Keegan Barber
The goal was to return material untouched by Earths atmosphere.
Thats why, once the asteroid sample reached Earth, safeguarding it became the missions top priority.
Thats where the curation team came in.
© Vicky Leta/Gizmodo
Our primary goal is protecting the sample, said Nicole Lunning, lead OSIRIS-REx sample curator.
And thats the really big challenge for us.
Since this had never been done before, however, there were so many unknowns.
Photo: NASA/Keegan Barber
Bennu is a small, near-Earth asteroid that makes a close pass to Earth every six years or so.
Theres still plenty more of Bennu to be analyzed.
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