NASA’s collection of asteroid rubble exceeds expectations, doubling the anticipated amount.

NASA recently acquired asteroid samples from the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft that contain double the expected amount of material. The samples were delivered last fall, but the process took longer than expected due to stuck fasteners on the collection mechanism. After developing new tools, scientists were able to collect the rest of the sample. The samples will be stored at NASA’s Johnson Space Center and made available for research by scientists worldwide. The mission of the OSIRIS-REx craft is to collect samples from the asteroid Bennu and study their composition. The craft cost $800 million and the samples could provide valuable insight into the origins of life on Earth and potential asteroid threats.

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