"Smithsonian Unveils OSIRIS-REx's Asteroid Fragment, Potentially Containing Life's Origins"
The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. has unveiled the first display of a fragment from the asteroid Bennu, brought back to Earth by NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission. The small rock, presented in a stainless steel bottle, is surrounded by a pure-nitrogen environment to preserve its condition. The display also includes models of the ULA Atlas V rocket and the OSIRIS-REx probe. The fragment, heavily altered by water, holds potential insights into the origins of the Solar System, Earth's oceans, and life itself. Two more Bennu fragments will be displayed at other venues for scientific study.