OSIRIS-REx descends on Bennu
In the days ahead, NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will descend on asteroid Bennu to collect a sample of its surface in what the space agency is calling a Touch-And-Go (TAG). If successful, the craft could return the largest sample recovery since the Apollo era, according to NASA. The collected material will return to Earth in Sept. of 2023 and could provide invaluable insights about the formation of our solar system, the origins of life, and more. Here are photos of OSIRIS-REx, asteroid Bennu, and other images the spacecraft has snapped along its multi-billion mile journey.
SEE: OSIRIS-REx on Bennu: The mission's project scientist details "greedy" asteroid sampling, challenges, and more (TechRepublic)
Image: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
By R. Dallon Adams
R. Dallon Adams is a journalist originally from Louisville, Kentucky. His previous work includes a wide spectrum of beats and formats ranging from tech-savvy urban planning initiatives to hands-on gadget reviews.