spacetoday.net: NASA unveils OSIRIS-REx asteroid samples

NASA unveils OSIRIS-REx asteroid samples

Posted: Sun, Oct 15, 2023, 10:43 AM ET (1443 GMT)
Scientists say they're thrilled with the asteroid samples returned by a NASA mission. The agency offered Wednesday a first look at the samples from the asteroid Bennu brought back by the OSIRIS-REx mission last month. The material includes water in the form of hydrated materials as well as a high carbon content. That assessment comes from a small amount of "bonus material" seen when the sample container was opened, with the bulk of the material still inside a special sampling device yet to be opened. Project officials said they should be able to open that sampling device and provide a better assessment of the amount of asteroid material brought back in a couple weeks.