Could it hold the key to life? A spacecraft has returned from a seven-year journey into the solar system. Scientists hope it might be carrying the key to life.
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Yes, this really DID land from outer space
Could it hold the key to life? A spacecraft has returned from a seven-year journey into the solar system. Scientists hope it might be carrying the key to life.
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What's happening?
Five years ago, a spacecraft named Osiris-REx came very close to a huge asteroidA small body in space, made of metal and rock material. Asteroids usually orbit the sun, but if knocked off course they can be drawn into Earth's gravity and fall towards it. called Bennu. The rock was half a kilometre across. The spacecraft released a little capsule that moved towards the huge rock and collected a tiny piece of it.
On Sunday, that capsule finally arrived home. Now scientists hope the sample could show us the mysteries of life and the universeEverything. Including all of time and space and its contents. .
Scientists believe the building blocks of life might have been left here billions of years ago when other asteroids hit the Earth.
Find out more
Bennu has not changed much since the solar systemThe Sun and the objects whose movement it controls. was formed more than 4.5 billion years ago. That means studying it is like going back in time to when the Earth was made. It could give us key information about how we came to be.
There is another reason why learning about Bennu might be important. There is a very small chance that Bennu could one day hit the Earth. NasaThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration, responsible for the US space programme. want to know more about Bennu so that they can learn how to stop it.
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Could it hold the key to life?
Yes! Scientists have believed for a long time that life started in space. This is our best chance yet to find out where we came from.
No! The "key" to life is not a question for scientists. Instead, it is one for us all. It means asking hard questions about who we are and what we should do with our lives.
Keywords
Asteroid - A small body in space, made of metal and rock material. Asteroids usually orbit the sun, but if knocked off course they can be drawn into Earth's gravity and fall towards it.
Universe - Everything. Including all of time and space and its contents.
Solar System - The Sun and the objects whose movement it controls.
Nasa - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, responsible for the US space programme.
Yes, this really DID land from outer space
Ancient: This tiny capsule is carrying dust and rock that is 4.5 billion years old. Glossary
Asteroid - A small body in space, made of metal and rock material. Asteroids usually orbit the sun, but if knocked off course they can be drawn into Earth’s gravity and fall towards it.
Universe - Everything. Including all of time and space and its contents.
Solar System - The Sun and the objects whose movement it controls.
Nasa - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, responsible for the US space programme.