NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft on Monday began its long journey back to Earth after collecting a sample from the asteroid Bennu. The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer was NASA's first spacecraft to visit an asteroid near Earth to bring back a sampling for scientists. The spacecraft reached asteroid Bennue in 2018 and spent two years flying near and around it, before collecting rubble from the surface last fall. Early last month, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft made one final flyby of asteroid Bennu to take photos of the disturbance left by October's sample collection. It will return to Earth with its precious 2-pound sample load on Sept. 24, 2023.

Source: Fox News May 10, 2021 20:26 UTC