Big Questions: Astrobiology
The OSIRIS-REx mission to asteroid Bennu has increased our understanding of planetary formation and the origin of life on Earth.
Launched in 2016, and after collecting a sample from asteroid Bennu, OSIRIS-REx flew past Earth on 24 September 2023 and dropped the sample capsule through Earth's atmosphere.
The spacecraft was then renamed OSIRIS-APEX, and sent on a new mission to explore asteroid Apophis in 2029.
The rock and dust from asteroid Bennu has been found to contain all key molecules of RNA and DNA, as well as 14 other amino acids important to life.
We now have a few more answers to the biggest questions: How did Earth develop a habitable environment? Where did life come from? Could life exist elsewhere?
Full preview below.
Film Type
KS3 - KS5 / Adults
Length: 10min
