Nasa Awaits the Fiery Return of Asteroid Bennu Samples by Osiris-Rex

NASA's Osiris-Rex spacecraft is set to conclude its seven-year mission by returning soil samples collected from the surface of asteroid Bennu. The spacecraft will drop off the samples as it passes by Earth and they will be protected in a capsule to ensure a safe descent to Utah. Scientists anticipate that the analysis of these samples will provide new insights into the formation of planets billions of years ago as well as the origins of life on Earth. The touchdown is expected to occur at 08:55 local time and will be a nerve-wracking moment as the capsule experiences intense heat and rapid deceleration. Despite the preparations and practice, there is still a sense of caution due to a past incident where a capsule failed to open its parachute. Recovery teams are monitoring weather conditions and the potential for rain impacting the retrieval of the capsule, but the mission remains on track to deliver the samples to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Texas for further analysis. Following the sample drop, the Osiris-Rex probe will embark on a rendezvous with asteroid Apophis in 2029.