"NASA Successfully Opens Capsule Containing Asteroid Bennu Sample"
NASA has successfully opened the canister containing material collected from the potentially hazardous asteroid Bennu by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, after months of effort. The sample, thought to contain some of the earliest precursors to life, is the first chunk of a space rock ever grabbed by a NASA mission. The agency had already collected 2.5 ounces of the sample from the canister's lid, but two stuck fasteners delayed access to the material inside. Now that the box has been opened, NASA will follow additional steps to photograph, extract, weigh, and process the remaining sample, which is expected to provide valuable insights into the origins of life on Earth.