In a few hours, samples from the surface of the Bennu asteroid are expected to arrive on Earth.
This will end the 7-year mission of the Osiris-Rex probe, which was launched in 2016.
The samples – weighing about 250 grams – will be “ejected” while the device is near the Earth.
They are in a special capsule to protect them when entering the atmosphere when the temperature rises sharply.
The container they are stored in is the size of a car and will fly to Earth’s surface in about 13 minutes. It is expected to land in the Utah area.
NASA’s website notes that Bennu is in the category of potentially hazardous asteroids with the potential to hit Earth.
