NASA just launched its first asteroid return mission, as a rocket blasting off from Cape Canaveral, Florida. An Atlas 5 rocket is carrying a space probe that will collect asteroid samples which will then return to Earth, that will hopefully shed more light about the evolution of the solar system and the building blocks of life.
This powerful rocket was developed for NASA by United Launch Alliance, launching at 7:05 P.M. local time Thursday, with the OSIRIS REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer) flying towards the asteroid known as Bennu.
An hour after liftoff, the 3,300 pound space probe separated from the 19 storey rocket at speeds of 22,000 miles per hour, which is 28 times faster than the speed of sound, kickstarting this seven year mission.
In order to reach near Earth object Bennu, the probe will travel for almost two years to rendezvous with this asteroid that is also orbiting the sun, nearly the same distance as Earth's.
Mission scientists believe that organic clues lie within Bennu's core that has been preserved since the first days of the solar system.
According to NASA astrobiologist, Daniel Glavin, these asteroids can hold prebiotic chemical signatures dating back to 4.5 billion years ago, as Earth began to form.
The presence of water on our planet is thought to be brought about by an asteroid collision that triggered biochemical processes, creating life. This mission will now prove that theory, based on samples taken from Bennu.
In 2018, OSIRIS REx will orbit around the asteroid which will map out its surface and analyze its chemical and mineral compositions.
NASA officials also say that there is a one in 2,700 chance that Bennu might crash into our planet sometime between 2175 to 2199.