OSIRIS-REx, which NASA sent on 8 September 2016 to collect samples from the asteroid Bennu, will return to Earth on Sunday, 24 September with the material taken.  The capsule containing samples from Bennu will parachute down to the US Department of Defence's Utah Test and Training Range, where the ground crew will be waiting to receive it.

NASA: COULD HELP RESEARCH ON HOW LIFE BEGAN

NASA emphasised that the findings will help research on how planets formed and how life began, as well as improve our understanding of asteroids that could affect Earth. It was stated that the analysis of the samples of the Bennu asteroid will be broadcast live by NASA. NASA announced that the live broadcast can be followed on NASA's website and social media accounts on 24 September 2023.

NASA defines the Bennu asteroid as one of the two most dangerous objects known in the solar system, and according to the calculations of some scientists, Bennu was stated to hit the Earth in 2182.