Keith’s note: According to Asteroid Bennu Sample Reveals A Mix Of Life’s Ingredients from NASA: “Studies of rock and dust from asteroid Bennu delivered to Earth by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security–Regolith Explorer) spacecraft have revealed molecules that, on our planet, are key to life, as well as a history of saltwater that could have served as the “broth” for these compounds to interact and combine. The findings do not show evidence for life itself, but they do suggest the conditions necessary for the emergence of life were widespread across the early solar system, increasing the odds life could have formed on other planets and moons.”

• Discoveries from Asteroid Bennu: Media Briefing Graphics, NASA
• Traces Of Ancient Brine Discovered On Asteroid Bennu Contain Minerals Crucial To Life , Smithsonian
• Dust From asteroid Bennu: Building Blocks Of Life And Possible Habitats Were Widespread In Our Solar System, Goethe University Frankfurt
• Exploring The Mysteries Of Asteroid Bennu, Berkeley Lab
• Pristine Asteroid Samples Reveal Secrets Of The Ancient Solar System, Curtin University
• Life’s Building Blocks Discovered In Samples From Asteroid Bennu, Hokkaido University
• More posts about Asteroid Bennu, Astrobiology.com

Keith’s note: OSIRIS-REx has returned samples to Earth. I was on BBC World TV just after midnight last night [Audio]. I was on Deutsche Welle this morning at 11:00 AM EDT [Audio] and again at 1:00 PM EDT [Audio] I did ABC Radios Breakfast News morning show – in Australia (no recording). Finally, I was on CGTN at 5:10 pm EDT [Audio]. Meanwhile there is more info from NASA.

OSIRIS-REx Samples Asteroid Bennu “NASA’s Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft unfurled its robotic arm Tuesday, and in a first for the agency, briefly touched an asteroid to collect dust and pebbles from the surface for delivery to Earth in 2023. This well-preserved, ancient asteroid, known as Bennu, is currently more than 200 million miles (321 million kilometers) from Earth. Bennu offers scientists a window into […]

OSIRIS-REx Spacecraft Arrives at Asteroid Bennu “The spacecraft executed a maneuver that transitioned it from flying toward Bennu to operating around the asteroid. Now, at about 11.8 miles (19 kilometers) from Bennu’s Sun-facing surface, OSIRIS-REx will begin a preliminary survey of the asteroid. The spacecraft will commence flyovers of Bennu’s north pole, equatorial region, and south pole, getting as close as nearly 4 miles (7 kilometers) above Bennu during each […]

Keith’s note: According to this press release from Deals Secure Group Holding Company GP, Elite Capital & Co. Limited, and Dr. Faisal Khazaal, LLD. Law Group, LP: “Dr. Khazaal was one of those who participated in the funding of the spacecraft LightSail. Being recognized for his participation he was granted ownership of a square centimeter of this spacecraft as a symbolic property for his belief in the importance of space […]

OSIRIS-REx Speeds Toward Asteroid Rendezvous (Watch the replay of the launch) “The OSIRIS-REx mission will be the first U.S. mission to carry samples from an asteroid back to Earth and the largest sample returned from space since the Apollo era.” United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches OSIRIS-REx Spacecraft for NASA “A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft for NASA lifted off from Space Launch Complex-41 Sept. […]