NASA’s Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft unfurled its robotic arm Oct. 20, 2020, and in a first for the agency, briefly touched an asteroid to collect dust and pebbles from the surface for delivery to Earth in 2023.

This well-preserved, ancient asteroid, known as Bennu, is currently more than 200 million miles (321 million kilometers) from Earth. Bennu offers scientists a window into the early solar system as it was first taking shape billions of years ago and flinging ingredients that could have helped seed life on Earth.

www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2020/osiris-rex-tags-surface-of-asteroid-bennu

Music: «Event Horizon» by Jochen Reinhold Flach, via Universal Production Music

Video credit: NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center

James Tralie (ADNET):
Lead Producer
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Kel Elkins (USRA):
Visualizer

Adriana Manrique Gutierrez (USRA):
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Walt Feimer (KBRwyle):
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Michael Lentz (USRA):
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Erin Morton (The University of Arizona):
Support

Nancy Neal-Jones (NASA/GSFC):
Support

Aaron E. Lepsch (ADNET):
Technical Support

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