NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is tucking away precious asteroid samples for safekeeping - Space.com

NASA's asteroid-sampling maneuver last week was so successful that the spacecraft will begin stowing its new souvenirs today (Oct. 27) to avoid losing rock by idling around.

The agency's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft touched down on an asteroid named Bennu on Oct.

20 and puffed nitrogen gas at the space rock to blow pieces into the arm's sampling head before backing away to safety.

When OSIRIS-REx scientists were able to see images of the sampling head on Oct.

Originally, the spacecraft was scheduled to make a careful pirouette over the weekend that would tell scientists precisely how much weight OSIRIS-REx had picked up in its encounter.

But without the flap fully closed, that spin would result in the spacecraft losing more space rock.

The mission is scheduled to remain at the space rock until the middle of next year before turning back to Earth, where it will deliver its cargo in 2023.