Asteroid & Comet Missions

Latest about Asteroid & Comet Missions

a sample space capsule parachuting to Earth in a test

What if NASA's OSIRIS-REx asteroid-sample capsule crashes to Earth this weekend?

By Elizabeth Howell published

The descent capsule of NASA's OSIRIS-REx asteroid-sampling mission is supposed to touch down softly under parachutes on Sept. 24. If it crashes, however, the agency has a backup plan.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
A mass of gravel and dirt ejected from the surface of asteroid Bennu by the touchdown of NASA's OSIRIS-REx probe.

How asteroid Bennu caught NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft by surprise and nearly killed it along the way

By Tereza Pultarova published

When the OSIRIS-REx probe arrived at asteroid Bennu, it found a body that looked and behaved quite differently from what scientists had expected.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
An animation showing two black and white images side-by-side. The right image has a yellow circle around the dot that is moving across the screen in both images.

NASA's Lucy asteroid-hopping probe captures 1st snapshot of space rock 'Dinky' (photo)

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

NASA's Lucy spacecraft just sent home an impressive glimpse of the smallest asteroid target on its 12-year agenda to study intriguing space rocks.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
a small capsule falls toward earth under an orange and white parachute.

OSIRIS-REx asteroid probe heads toward Earth for Sept. 24 sample delivery

By Mike Wall published

NASA's OSIRIS-REx probe put itself on course toward Earth with a thruster firing on Sept. 10, two weeks before its highly anticipated asteroid-sample delivery.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
This artist’s concept shows NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft descending toward asteroid Bennu to collect a sample of the asteroid’s surface.

OSIRIS-REx's Dante Lauretta shares final preparations for Sept. 24 asteroid-sample return

By Leonard David published

NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission will see a sample of an asteroid return to Earth on Sept. 24. Here's how the mission's head scientist feels about the chances of success.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
technicians in white coats work on a shiny silvery spacecraft inside a white-walled room.

SpaceX launch of NASA's Psyche mission to bizarre metal asteroid just 1 month away

By Mike Wall published

NASA's Psyche mission is scheduled to launch atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket on Oct. 5 and begin heading toward its metal-asteroid namesake.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
A cubical satellite under assembly in a clean room.

Europe assembles Hera spacecraft to eye aftermath of DART asteroid crash (video, photos)

By Andrew Jones published

The European Space Agency's Hera spacecraft is now assembled ahead of its journey to analyze the asteroid smashed by NASA's DART mission.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
An artist's depiction of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft collecting a sample from asteroid Bennu.

NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission almost bit the dust — then Queen guitarist Brian May stepped in

By Ben Turner published

The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will soon return to Earth. What's on board could reveal the extraterrestrial origins of life on Earth.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
a small capsule descends toward a desert landscape beneath an orange and white parachute.

NASA conducts crucial drop test ahead of Sept. 24 arrival of OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample

By Mike Wall published

The OSIRIS-REx team performed a crucial drop test on Wednesday (Aug. 30), practicing what they'll do when the mission's real asteroid sample comes home on Sept. 24.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
four people surround a small yellow-orange space capsule in a dry, flat desert lakebed.

NASA discussing September arrival of OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample: Watch live today

By Mike Wall published

NASA will discuss the September arrival of asteroid samples collected by its OSIRIS-REx probe during a press conference today (Aug. 30), and you can watch it live.

Asteroid & Comet Missions
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