NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission successfully returned a sample of dust and rocks from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu on September 24, 2023, delivering 4.3 ounces (122 grams) of material.

The mission exceeded its initial goal of collecting 2 ounces (60 grams), providing significant insights into the early solar system and the potential origins of life on Earth.

Initial studies of the asteroid material revealed high quantities of carbon-based compounds and hydrated minerals, suggesting that asteroids may have contributed essential components for life to early Earth.

Researchers identified magnesium sodium phosphate in the sample, indicating that Bennu's origins may be more complex than previously thought, possibly stemming from a larger, water-rich celestial body.

The majority of the asteroid sample is curated at NASA facilities, while portions have been distributed to key research institutions and select museums to promote public engagement.

Following the Bennu sample return, the OSIRIS-REx mission has expanded into a new mission called OSIRIS-APEX, which aims to study the near-Earth asteroid Apophis, set to approach Earth in 2029.

The OSIRIS-APEX mission, led by Dani Mendoza DellaGiustina, will provide data on the interactions between near-Earth objects and Earth's gravitational field, which is crucial for planetary defense strategies.

The mission's data may provide insights into a potential fifth fundamental force of the universe, as suggested by a study from an international team led by Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Co-author Sunny Vagnozzi emphasized that their findings offer some of the tightest limits on potential fifth forces, which could aid in the search for ultralight bosons and dark matter.

Dark matter, which constitutes about 85% of the universe's total matter, remains poorly understood in terms of its particle composition and forces.

Lead author Yu-Dai Tsai noted that tracking data from Bennu could enhance our understanding of the Standard Model of physics, gravity, and dark matter.

The team utilized ground-based tracking data collected before and during the OSIRIS-REx mission to investigate extensions of the Standard Model.