OSIRIS-REx nearly failed at asteroid Bennu, science chief reveals

On Sept. 24, NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will drop off a piece of space rock at Earth. Ahead of the historic sample landing, Space.com caught up with Dante Lauretta, the mission's chief scientist, to learn about the obstacles that nearly thwarted the mission's effort. Full Story: www.space.com/asteroid-bennu-...

[@dustinweatherby5518]

That was very captivating. I can't wait until we start to do more of these types of missions further and further out. Just thinking of the fact that we will be studying something that until now has been traveling through space for millions upon millions of years is mind blowing!

[@coryproffitt]

What an impressive accomplishment, way to go scientist!

[@amangogna68]

Great video and information !

[@mdebarshi]

Unimaginable...

[@pylon500]

One assumes that if Bennu really is a 'puff ball', then it would really pose much of threat coming into the Earth's atmosphere?
Might look spectacular...

[@hubbsllc]

Oh, an absolutely horrific threat. Its internal cohesion of little consequence - if anything, it might make it worse because less of its kinetic energy will be expended in tearing it apart. Not that it'd matter, mind you.

[@Daniel44x]

It never went to benu to nearly fail 😂😂😂

[@thomasstevenrothmbamd2384]

Wow!

[@user-ms3jo1zh2k]

Quem tá filmando ...

[@isamgifford8987]

Hello from arkansas

[@cooperthedog]

Excited

[@isamgifford8987]

Me too

[@SomeRandom6uy]

nice information delivered with sexy accent.