Unlocking asteroid secrets: NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission

On 24 September 2023, the spacecraft OSIRIS-REx completed NASA’s first mission to deliver asteroid samples to Earth, bringing a seven-year trip to a close.

Since the precious cargo from the asteroid Bennu landed home in the Utah desert, NASA’s curation and sample analysis teams have been hard at work studying the 4.6 billion-year-old samples. The dust and rocks, collected from the asteroid surface in 2020, will offer generations of scientists a window into the time when the sun and planets first formed.

Join Earth and Environmental Sciences Research Fellow Dr Sarah Crowther for a journey of discovery as she uncovers the secrets of the asteroid Bennu and her role at NASA. During this unique talk, Sarah will be sharing an insight into the fascinating world of asteroid missions and explaining how and why they can provide a greater understanding of the history of Earth and our solar system.