Sam Hancock
Live reporter

With the Osiris-Rex capsule safely at its final destination of the day, we're going to leave our live coverage there.

• If you'd like to keep reading about the twists and turns of today, head to our main news story here
• For more on the capsule's long and much-anticipated journey back to Earth, head here
• You can also watch this helpful video about why these samples from asteroid Bennu are potentially so important

Today's page was brought to you by our science colleagues Rebecca Morelle and Jonathan Amos, with the help of Ali Abbas Ahmadi and Nadia Ragozhina. It was edited by me.

It's been a momentous day for Nasa - here's a recap of how it played out.

• A capsule containing fragments of the Solar System's most dangerous asteroid landed safely in the Utah desert at 08:52 local time (14:52 GMT)
• The container was released from Nasa's Osiris-Rex spacecraft a few hours earlier, before hurtling into Earth's atmosphere at 27,000mph - parachutes helped to slow its descent
• Scientists believe the material collected from the asteroid, called Bennu, could help explain how life on Earth began
• After landing in the desert, the capsule was transported to the nearby Dugway military base where its contents will be inspected under sterile conditions
• Researchers from around the world will be able to ask for material - the hope is that so much has been collected (250g) that there will be a bountiful resource for future generations of researchers
• Asked how the rescue mission went, some of the workers told BBC News' science team in Utah that it was "awesome"

As the mission now moves from recovery into the next phase, BBC News' Science editor Rebecca Morelle explains why the asteroid samples are so important.

Jonathan Amos
Science correspondent, reporting from Utah

After placing the capsule gently on the ground at the clean room, the main helicopter moves over to our side of the airfield to land.

We then see the recovery team members for the first time now.

“How did that go?” we shout.

“Awesome,” they cry back.

The sample capsule has now been dropped off outside the building which houses the temporary clean room.

In there, as we've been reporting, the container will be inspected under sterile conditions.

Image source, Nasa

Jonathan Amos
Science correspondent

The first of the recovery choppers is back at Dugway, where myself and BBC News' science editor Rebecca Morelle are.

But we're awaiting the aircraft carrying the capsule.

That’s the one we want to see.

Image source, Nasa

Jonathan Amos
Science correspondent, reporting from Utah

While the capsule make its way to what's known as the clean room - where it'll be inspected under sterile conditions - let's return to the moment it successfully landed on Earth.

We're getting some insight into why it landed earlier than expected, at 08:52 local time (15:52 BST) rather than the scheduled 08:55.

The main parachute deployment was timed to trigger when the capsule had reached a certain deceleration.

This was planned to happen at about 1,500m (5,000ft) and it actually happened at 6,000m (20,000ft).

This will be one for the engineers at manufacturer Lockheed Martin to pore over, but for the scientists they'll just be happy to have the capsule and its samples safely back on Earth.

The sample capsule is now airborne and making its way to the Dugway military base, where our science team are waiting to catch a glimpse of it.

Rescue workers took great care as they connected the wrapped-up container to a longline device.

That device was then strapped to the underside of a helicopter, as you can see from the video above.

Jonathan Amos
Science correspondent, reporting from Utah

The capsule is in its protective blanket and in its carry fixture, which will be attached to one of the rescue helicopters.

Onto the next job - bringing in a chopper to lift it.

Image source, NASA

We've just heard from Nasa Administrator Bill Nelson, who thanked everyone involved with the mission.

"You designed it, you built it .. it's the largest asteroid sample ever received on Earth [and] it shows that Nasa does big things," he told the space agency's special broadcast, with a smile on his face.

Nelson went on:

Image source, Nasa

Following their assessment that the capsule is not damaged, the recovery teams will now begin the process of retrieving and taking it back to the clean room.

First up - collecting samples from the landing site, as can be seen in the image below.

It's vital to be able to know exactly what’s in the dust and dirt surrounding it - so they can distinguish it from any bits of Bennu, says BBC News' science editor Rebecca Morelle.

Image source, Nasa

Jonathan Amos
Science correspondent, reporting from Utah

We've just had some important news from the recovery site - the capsule has not been breached.

It survived its re-entry; it wasn't damaged.

It's in perfect shape.

Nasa has had confirmation that the safety assessment - being carried out by some of the recovery team members - has been successful, it says.

Gas readings and samples of both the air and ground around the landing site continue to be taken.

You can watch the capsule and - hopefully - the sample it's carrying be recovered live by clicking the Play button at the top of this page.

Jonathan Amos
Science correspondent, reporting from Utah

The capsule looks in good shape.

It's sitting proud on the "nose" of its heatshield. It looks intact which is great news.

When the recovery teams get close, safety will be the watchword.

For one thing, the capsule will still be hot. They'll need to let it cool down.

They need also to check for any noxious gases. So be patient, this next phase won't be a quick process.

Image source, NASA

Here's the moment the capsule carrying fragments of asteroid Bennu touched down on Planet Earth, met with applause by the Nasa team in the mission control room.

Image source, Nasa

Nasa has shared its first visual of the capsule.

The parachute which helped to slow its descent has disconnected, the space agency says, but has been spotted in the same area of Utah desert.

The first helicopter, which will help transport the sample back to the military base, has already arrived at the site. We'll keep you updated on the recovery operation.

The landing site of the parachute, which Nasa is describing as "orange creamsicle" coloured, has been identified.

Those coordinates will now be shared with the recovery team, an official speaking on Nasa TV says.

He adds that, once collected, the capsule will be attached to a longline below one of the helicopters and then transferred to the military base.

Image source, NASA

Rebecca Morelle
Science editor, reporting from Utah

After seven long years, travelling billions of miles through the solar system to back to Bennu - and back - the capsule is finally down.

There were cheers here at the military base as the news came back that it had touched down in the Utah desert.

No time for celebrations for the recovery team though - they are now racing to the landing site to begin the process of bringing the capsule back to the military base.

There we have it.

The capsule has successfully landed in the Utah desert, and applause can be heard around the Nasa control room.

It landed just after 08:52 local time (15:52 BST).

Image source, NASA

Rebecca Morelle
Science editor, reporting from Utah

Suddenly the capsule is in view on the tracking camera.

What a relief to see that parachute slowing down its descent!

Image source, NASA