After a meticulous and careful operation, NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission has successfully collected a total of 121.6 grams (4.3 ounces) of rock and dust from the asteroid Bennu. The highly anticipated haul will provide scientists with valuable insights into the origins of the Solar System and potentially shed light on the appearance of life.

The mission, approved by NASA in 2011 and launched in September 2016, reached Bennu in December 2018 after months of study and reconnaissance for a suitable sampling site. In December 2019, an ideal location was chosen, and on October 20th, 2020, the spacecraft successfully gathered its sample.

Upon its return to Earth in September 2023, more than 200 researchers from around the world will receive portions of the sample for analysis. The majority will be distributed to scientists at NASA and various institutions in the United States. A significant portion, 4% of the sample, will be allocated to researchers affiliated with the Canadian Space Agency, marking Canada's first direct access to a returned asteroid sample.

Bennu, a carbonaceous B-type asteroid, was selected for its proximity to Earth and its status as a natural time capsule. With its rubble pile structure and over 200 boulders measuring over 10 meters, Bennu provides valuable insights into the early formation of the Solar System. Some of these boulders even contain carbonate minerals predating the asteroid's formation.

The sample's analysis will focus on several important aspects. One of the key objectives is to determine whether the sample contains organic compounds that could have played a role in the emergence of life, supporting the panspermia theory. Additionally, scientists will compare the samples to data obtained from orbit to assess the accuracy of the spacecraft's instruments, providing crucial feedback for future missions.

Furthermore, researchers hope to gain insights into Bennu's origins by studying how it broke off from a much larger parent body and migrated towards the inner Solar System. Astronomers suspect that Bennu may be older than the Solar System itself, potentially offering vital clues about the gas and dust present in the solar nebula that eventually formed the Sun and the planets.

Preliminary observations from the Bennu sample have already yielded intriguing results. The presence of carbon and water was expected, given Bennu's carbonaceous nature and the believed role of asteroids in delivering water to Earth.

While the primary OSIRIS-REx sampling mission is complete, the spacecraft is now embarking on its extended mission, OSIRIS-APEX (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security - Apophis Explorer). This mission aims to study the asteroid Apophis, which will make a close encounter with Earth in 2029, investigating the effects of this encounter on Apophis' orbit, trajectory, and potential surface changes triggered by Earth's gravity.

The OSIRIS-REx mission showcases human ingenuity and international cooperation. As scientists begin their analysis of the collected samples, we can anticipate a steady stream of fascinating discoveries. The data obtained will undoubtedly challenge and refine our understanding of the Solar System, promising an enriching and captivating scientific journey.