NASA's dedicated team has achieved a major breakthrough in accessing the valuable materials collected by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft from asteroid Bennu, millions of miles away. After encountering difficulty in opening the container holding the samples, NASA scientists have finally managed to remove the last two stuck fasteners.

The samples, safely stored in a specially designed landing capsule, were delivered to a specialized facility at the Johnson Space Center in Houston after being dropped off in the Utah desert back in September. Despite being able to analyze some samples found outside the main container, accessing the actual bulk of samples enclosed within the spacecraft's Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM) proved to be a challenge.

In an October update, NASA highlighted the issue of two fasteners on the TAGSAM head that could not be removed. However, after months of hard work, the team successfully designed, developed, and tested new tools to overcome this hurdle. These tools, including custom-fabricated bits made from a specific grade of surgical, non-magnetic stainless steel, enabled the team to pry off the remaining fasteners and gain full access to the Bennu samples.

Principal investigator Dante Lauretta expressed excitement about this achievement, stating, "Finally having the TAGSAM head open and full access to the returned Bennu samples is a monumental achievement that reflects the unwavering dedication and ingenuity of our team." Lauretta added that the next chapter involves sharing these precious samples with the global scientific community and continuing the journey of discovery.

The holdup in accessing the samples was primarily due to the lack of necessary tools within the specially designed glovebox, which prevents contamination and allows scientists to handle the samples through integrated gloves. However, with the development of new tools, NASA managed to collect 70 grams (approximately 2.5 ounces) of material from the Bennu samples.

Furthermore, a preliminary analysis of the gathered material revealed its richness in water and carbon, which NASA describes as the "building blocks of life on Earth." This finding has sparked great excitement among scientists and further emphasizes the significance of these samples for understanding the origin and potential for life elsewhere in the universe.

With the successful unlocking of the container and the ongoing analysis of the Bennu samples, NASA's team is making significant progress in unraveling the secrets hidden within an asteroid millions of miles away. The discoveries and insights gained from these samples have the potential to reshape our understanding of the cosmos and our place within it.