Scientists hope the samples from an asteroid will tell us more about what led to life on Earth - but it may not be revealed for a few generations.
It's a pristine time capsule because the material has escaped the intense heat and pressure that occurs when planets form - and the weathering that has happened since.
The Earth is regularly bombarded with meteorites, but these undergo chemical changes during their fiery descent through the atmosphere.That's why the spacecraft was sent more than a billion miles through space to scoop up an unadulterated sample from Bennu.Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video playerAn image of asteroid Bennu composed of 12 images from the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft.
And, at just under 1,640ft across, it is big enough to create a three-mile wide crater and produce an airblast that would flatten buildings over hundreds of square kilometres, according to the Imperial College 'Earth impact' programme. By studying Bennu's composition, scientists will have a better understanding of how they might deal with the threat.
They already know the top layer is surprisingly soft - the Osiris-Rex spacecraft sank 50cm into the surface before it fired its rockets, throwing up a cloud of debris.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
What is Nasa’s Osiris Rex space mission?The US space agency will bring home the largest asteroid sample ever returned to Earth on Sunday.
Read more »
Osiris-Rex: Nasa awaits fiery return of asteroid Bennu samplesA capsule carrying rocky debris from asteroid Bennu is about to streak through the sky above Utah.
Read more »
Osiris-Rex latest: NASA probe returns with rock samples from asteroid after seven-year missionThe NASA mission landed in the US this afternoon with 'pristine' samples from an asteroid which scientists warned could one day hit Earth.
Read more »
Sir Brian May 'immensely proud' to be part of Osiris-Rex asteroid sample teamThe Queen guitarist sends a message of support to the team he helped by identifying where Osiris-Rex could grab a sample from the asteroid.
Read more »
Sir Brian May praises Osiris-Rex team as asteroid samples land on EarthHe's burnin' through the sky, yeah...
Read more »
OSIRIS-REx delivers NASA's first asteroid sampleMolto Bennu
Read more »