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The OSIRIS-REx project involves NASA retrieving material from ancient asteroids.

On September 24, 2023, NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission achieved a historic milestone by successfully returning samples from the asteroid Bennu to Earth. Consequently, space science has advanced significantly. NASA has successfully retrieved samples from an asteroid for the first time.In 2020, the mission began when the probe went to the surface of Bennu and collected dust and other things. It made scientists very happy to hear that the samples made it back to Earth safely after a three-year trip.

Scientists eagerly anticipate examining the returned materials, since they may include crucial insights on the origins of life on Earth and within the early solar system. Asteroids like Bennu are thought to contain pure, old matter that hasn't changed much since the solar system began. They want to know more about these particles to figure out how planets formed and where the water and biological chemicals that all living things need to survive came from.

Scientists are keen to analyze the returning samples, since they may contain vital information on the beginnings of life on Earth and in the early solar system. 

Visit NASA.gov to get a more thorough summary of the importance of the OSIRIS-REx mission.

Source: NASA.gov - NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission overview

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Osiris-REx successfully completed its delivery of material from 101955 Bennu. It was renamed OSIRIS-APEX and sent out on a journey to collect material from 99942 Apophis, another asteroid. It is supposed to reach Apophis in 2029.

Both Bennu and Apophis can be called "ancient" asteroids, with Bennu splitting from another asteroid 700 million to 2 billion years ago, and Apophis forming in the asteroid belt around 4.6 billion years ago.

https://science.nasa.gov/mission/osiris-rex/in-depth/

https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/asteroids/101955-bennu/

https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/asteroids/apophis/
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