Bennu has spent seven years in space.

Source: https://pragativadi.com/osiris-rex-nasas-first-asteroid-sample-delivery-to-earth-to-take-place-tonight/

Bennu is a carbonaceous asteroid — a class of asteroids that contain a high amount of carbon.

Source: https://www.rawstory.com/birds-nests-express-their-unique-style-and-past-experiences/

But for those of us living now, Bennu can continue to be a source of wonder – rather than an existential threat.

Source: https://metro.co.uk/2023/10/26/nasas-billion-dollar-asteroid-mission-thwarted-by-two-pesky-screws-19724848/

Legendary Queen guitarist Brian May played a vital role in the OSIRIS-REx mission that successfully returned a sample of asteroid Bennu.

Source: https://hothardware.com/news/brian-may-helps-nasa-return-asteroid-sample

Osiris-Rex extended a vacuum tube to grab a material sample from Bennu in 2020, punching into the asteroid’s soft surface without actually landing on the space body, which is a loose amalgam of rocks, dust and debris held together by gravitational force.

Source: https://www.deseret.com/2023/10/11/23912721/nasa-reveals-asteroid-sample-bennu-osiris-rex-carbon-water

Scientists estimate the capsule holds at least a cup of rubble from a carbon-rich asteroid known as Bennu, but they won’t know for sure until the container is opened.

Source: https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/rubble-from-81-million-kilometres-away-capsule-carrying-asteroid-secrets-lands-on-earth-20230925-p5e784.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed

The OSIRIS-REx mission launched in September 2016 and reached asteroid Bennu in December 2018.

Source: https://gizmodo.com/nasa-osiris-rex-asteroid-sample-reveal-bennu-1850915443

This image, taken by NASA's Osiris-Rex probe on December 2, 2018, shows the asteroid Bennu.

Source: https://phys.org/news/2023-09-nasa-readies-asteroid-sample-earth.html

This means Bennu can give us an unspoiled glimpse into the past.

Source: https://jerseyeveningpost.com/uncategorised/2023/09/24/nasa-to-return-largest-asteroid-sample-ever-as-uk-helps-with-research/