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Nasa spacecraft touches asteroid surface to return alien samples to Earth

While the mission has been a success so far, it will take about a week for the OSIRIS-REx team to confirm how much samples the spacecraft collected. The goal is to gather at least 60 grams

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The spacecraft carried out TAG autonomously, with pre-programmed instructions from engineers on Earth. (NASA)

Shibu Tripathi New Delhi
In a historic event that unfolded nearly 321 million kilometers away from the Earth, a Nasa spacecraft successfully touched the surface of an asteroid to collect pristine samples to return to the Earth. The OsirisRex mission performed a first-of-its-kind Touch and Go (TAG) manoeuvre to blast nitrogen to gather regolith (dust and minerals) from the surface of asteroid Bennu. 

“This amazing first for Nasa demonstrates how an incredible team from across the country came together and persevered through incredible challenges to expand the boundaries of knowledge,” said Nasa Administrator Jim Bridenstine, adding, “our industry, academic, and international partners have made