OSIRIS-REx probe launched to asteroid in compelling search for the origins of life

Like reaching back in time to examine the conditions that existed in the ancient solar system, NASA has launched a robotic probe to visit Asteroid Bennu and return an unspoiled sample of the primitive body that may hold the seeds of life. “We’re going to an asteroid that represents the first building blocks of the planets in our solar system,” said Dante Lauretta, OSIRIS-REx principal investigator with the University of Arizona. “The mission is driven by the return of pristine organic molecules from the early solar system. I’m really hopeful that we will get some unique material that isn’t in our meteorite collections because its probably friable and not easily surviving atmospheric passage, and that’s the reason we are going to protect it in our Sample Return Capsule.” More

(Source: SpaceFlight Now - Sep 10)