Digital illustration of a spacecraft with solar panels and a dish antenna orbiting a cloud-covered beige planet against a dark starfield
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NASA Updates

Specific coverage of NASA missions and agency announcements, from asteroid sample collections to spacecraft operations.

OSIRIS-REx: Asteroid Sample Collection

In October 2020, NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft successfully collected samples from the surface of asteroid Bennu. The probe executed a touch-and-go maneuver, briefly making contact with the asteroid to gather regolith and rock fragments.

After the collection, the spacecraft safely stored the sample in its return capsule. The material is expected to arrive on Earth for scientific analysis, offering insights into the early solar system and the building blocks of planets.

  • Touch-and-go sample collection completed successfully
  • Samples secured in the spacecraft's storage capsule
  • Mission aims to return asteroid material to Earth
A view of the International Space Station orbiting above Earth's blue atmosphere, sunlight glinting off its solar panels

Recent NASA Coverage

October 29, 2020

NASA's OSIRIS-REx Probe Successfully Stores Small Sample of Asteroid Rocks in Its Belly

The spacecraft secured its collected asteroid material after initial concerns about sample loss, marking a milestone for the mission.

October 21, 2020

Three Astronauts Are Returning Home After Waiting Out Most of the Pandemic in Space

After an extended stay aboard the International Space Station, a crew of three astronauts made their journey back to Earth.

October 2020

SpaceX and ULA Secure National Security Launch Contracts

Both companies won key launch agreements, reinforcing their roles in the evolving landscape of U.S. space operations.