Summary

  • Nasa rescue workers have described as "awesome" their operation to retrieve a capsule containing fragments of the asteroid Bennu

  • The container - which landed safely in the Utah desert at 08:52 local time (15:52 BST) - will now be inspected under sterile conditions in a so-called clean room

  • Its re-entry vehicle entered Earth's atmosphere at 27,000mph, withstood temperatures of 2,700C, then deployed parachutes to slow its descent

  • Scientists hope the material from the space rock can help explain how life on Earth began

  • They estimate the probe has 250g of dust onboard, but only time well tell how much has made it back from space

  • Bennu is regarded as the most dangerous rock in the Solar System because, although chances are slim, its path gives it the highest probability of hitting Earth of any known asteroid

Live Reporting

Edited by Sam Hancock

  1. How did we get here?

    The Osiris-Rex spacecraft blasted off from Earth in 2016, arriving at Bennu - the asteroid - millions of miles later to collect pieces of dust and rock from its surface.

    It has since embarked on the long two-year journey back to Earth, which will come to an end in a few short hours when a capsule it is carrying lands in Utah.

    Scientists from around the world are eager to study the samples collected, which could answer some of our biggest questions about how life on Earth began.

    After dropping off the capsule, the Osiris-Rex spacecraft will continue its travels across space - this time to an asteroid named Apophis, where it’s scheduled to arrive in 2029.

  2. A big day for anyone wondering how life came to be on Earth

    Sam Hancock
    Live reporter

    Computer-generated image of the Osiris-Rex capsule descending towards BenuNASA

    A computer-generated image shows the Osiris-Rex capsule descending towards the Bennu asteroid

    Hello from the Live team. We are in London, but our eyes are on a remote patch of desert in the western US as we await the return to Earth of a capsule from Nasa’s Osiris-Rex spacecraft, carrying a sample of dust from an asteroid called Bennu.

    Scientists from around the world are queuing up to study the material, which comes from what is ultimately the most dangerous space rock in the Solar System.

    Stay with us as we await its arrival along with our science editor Rebecca Morelle and science correspondent Jonathan Amos.

    While we focus on the skies above Utah we’ll catch you up on everything you need to know about the mission, about Bennu, and why 250g of dust could give scientists clues to how life began on Earth.