NASA Mission To Retrieve Ancient Asteroid Dust Is Ready For Launch

An illustration of OSIRIS-REx, a collection of sensors, imaging devices and sample collectors, on its way to encounter the asteroid named Bennu. An illustration of OSIRIS-REx, a collection of sensors, imaging devices and sample collectors, on its way to encounter the asteroid named Bennu. A rocket set to take off Thursday evening from Cape Canaveral, Fla., is part of a mission by NASA and the University of Arizona to send a robot to an asteroid. The asteroid is called Bennu, and it's basically a giant rubble pile, shaped something like a spinning top. Scientists believe it's been moving through space untouched for about 4.5 billion years, making it a time capsule from when our solar system was just starting to form.