First OSIRIS-REx sample analysis reveals carbon and water

Initial analysis of material from the 4.5-billion-year-old asteroid have been found to show evidence of water as well as high-carbon content, indicating that Bennu may contain the building blocks required to develop life on Earth. The findings, announced by NASA from the Johnson Space Centre in Houston, were part of a preliminary assessment of the OSIRIS-REx science team after the mission landed back on Earth in the Utah desert on September 24.

OSIRIS-REx had a goal to collect 60g of asteroid material. Curation experts at NASA Johnson - working in new clean rooms built especially for the mission - have spent 10 days so far carefully disassembling the sample return hardware to reach the bulk sample material within. However, when the science canister lid was first opened, bonus asteroid material was found covering the outside of the collector head, canister lid and base. According to NASA, there was so much additional material it actually slowed down the careful process of collecting and containing the primary sample.