The Asteroid That Nearly Swallowed OSIRIS-Rex

The video explores the fear of ball pits and relates it to the Osiris Rex mission to the asteroid Bennu. Bennu is a rubble pile asteroid with a surface lacking cohesion, posing challenges for spacecraft. The Osiris Rex mission successfully collected samples, revealing unexpected findings about Bennu's surface. These insights are crucial for future missions and understanding asteroid behavior. The spacecraft is set to return to Earth with samples and will later fly by the asteroid Apophis.

What is the significance of the asteroid Bennu in terms of its composition and age?

Describe the process and outcome of the Osiris Rex mission's sample collection from Bennu.

What unexpected results did scientists find regarding the cohesion of Bennu's surface rocks?

How does the structure of Bennu differ from other rocky bodies in the solar system?

What are the implications of the findings from the Osiris Rex mission for future asteroid missions?