CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA finally has counted up all the asteroid samples returned by a spacecraft last fall — and it’s double the rubble return goal. Officials reported Thursday that the Osiris-Rex spacecraft collected 121.6 grams (4.29 ounces) of dust and pebbles from asteroid Bennu. That’s just over half a cup and the biggest cosmic haul ever from beyond the moon. It took NASA longer than expected to pry open the sample container because of stuck fasteners. The black, carbon-rich samples — the first ever collected from an asteroid by NASA — are stored at a special curation lab at Houston’s Johnson Space Center. Osiris-Rex returned the samples last September, three years after gathering them from the asteroid. The haul for the $1 billion mission would have been greater, but rocks jammed the lid of the container following the grab and some samples floated away. |
Spanish police say they've broken up Sinaloa cartel network, and seized 1.8 tons of methPaige Spiranac backs Rory McIlroy to WIN PGA ChampionshipFuriosa: A Mad Max SagaScheffler, Spieth, McIlroy all going for different slices of history when they tee it up at PGALove Island sign stunning model Grace Jackson for 2024 series who's already followed by MollyIs Charles' portrait a warning about the future of the monarchy?Moment British tourists wade into the sea and sprinkle lovedTurkey sentences proChasing Amy: How Marisa Abela became Amy Winehouse for 'Back to Black'Skins star Megan Prescott plans to strip off for OnlyFans snaps to fund her one