Asteroid & Comet Missions

Latest about Asteroid & Comet Missions

closeup of a small black rock sitting on a silver tray
Rare OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample debuts at Space Center Houston

By Robert Z. Pearlman Published

Move over, moon rocks! Space Center Houston has a new type of space stone in its showcase: a sample of the asteroid Bennu.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
An illustration of the asteroid belt as a dense donut-shaped ring of yellow points with the Sun at the center. The background is black with hints of dark blue in the corners and small white pinprick stars sprinkled throughout. A small illustrated Earth sits to the left of the Sun, and a semi-opaque, cone-like teal triangle extends from Earth toward the right. The cone opens up to a mosaic of a couple dozen small, square-like shapes representing Rubin Observatory’s LSST Camera’s detector area. The mosaic is overlaid onto a portion of the asteroid belt, and each tile represents a camera image that detects a group of asteroids. A thin curved white line begins behind the Sun and swings out around the Earth, tracing the path of a small, not-to-scale spacecraft heading toward the illuminated asteroids, ready for exploration.
How Earth's new Rubin Observatory will usher in the next era of asteroid space missions

By Robert Lea Published

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory won't ever leave Earth, but its big picture, highly detailed view of the solar system will inspire a new era of space missions destined to visit asteroids.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
gif animation showing an asteroid flying towards Earth.
Near-Earth asteroids: Hunting and tracking upcoming flybys

By Robert Lea Last updated

Reference Here we explore whether there are any upcoming asteroid encounters and how NASA and other space agencies actively monitor near-Earth asteroids that have the potential to hit our planet.

Reference
grey rocks and dust inside a silver metal cannister
NASA finally opens OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample canister after freeing stuck lid

By John Loeffler Published

After months of anticipation, NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission team has successfully accessed the treasure trove of asteroid material the probe collected during its billion-mile journey.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
A scientist in clean room suit attaches tool in glove box on asteroid sample capsule
At last! NASA finally frees lid of asteroid Bennu sample capsule after battling stuck fasteners

By Samantha Mathewson Published

NASA technicians have finally removed the two stubborn fasteners that prevented them from accessing all of the asteroid samples returned to Earth by OSIRIS-REx in September.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
An illustration shows OSRIS-APEX as it watches the asteroid Apophis skim Earth in 2029
NASA can't wait for its OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft to meet 'God of Chaos' asteroid Apophis in 2029

By Robert Lea Published

'God of Chaos' asteroid Apophis will make a flyby like no other in recorded history in 2029 as it becomes visible with the naked eye, and NASA's OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft will be on hand to supervise.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
a silver ring structure with dark asteroid material peppering its inner rim
'What is that material?': Potentially hazardous asteroid Bennu stumps scientists with its odd makeup

By Sharmila Kuthunur Published

Scientists found signs of organic molecules in the first samples of potentially hazardous asteroid Bennu, as well as a 'head scratching' material that has yet to be identified.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
a small black capsule sits in brown desert scrubland, with a scrunched-up orange-and-white parachute on the ground nearby.
Crossed wires caused parachute problem during OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample delivery, NASA says

By Mike Wall Published

Crossed wires likely prevented OSIRIS-REx's return capsule from deploying its drogue parachute during its descent through Earth's atmosphere on Sept. 24, NASA officials say.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
two grey rocks in space
Curious double moon discovered orbiting asteroid 'Dinky' now has a name

By Monisha Ravisetti Published

Asteroid Dinkinesh, target No. 1 on Lucy's journey, turned out to be not one, but two (technically three) space rocks put together. Scientists finally gave its satellite a name.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
This illustration depicts asteroid Phaethon being heated by the Sun. The asteroid’s surface gets so hot that sodium inside Phaethon’s rock likely vaporizes and vents into space, causing it to brighten like a comet and form a tail.
Asteroid Phaethon's mysterious tail may finally have an explanation

By Conor Feehly Published

Spectral analysis of the mystery asteroid Phaethon reveals its composition at last.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
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