formerly known as twitter. on thursday, the police picked up 49 of these protesters for violating the public order act and the gathering unlawfully. since then, these policemen have barricaded the street leading up to that very presidential residency but democracy hub gh which organises demonstration has vowed to occupy that very premises. don't we have the right to demonstrate? this is for the whole country, we have kids who have to do so much just to simply survive in the government does not care. the economy is facing its worst crisis with spiralling public debt.

it's going to grow from 3.1% in 2022. the government is a $3.3 loan in may but critics say they have done too little to help those who are most in need in this protracted downturn. let's get back to our main story of the hour now. nasa is awaiting a delivery of asteroid dust which could reveal new details about how the planets were formed. a probe was released from a spacecraft earlier and will land in the us state of utah in about 10—20 minutes from now. hit has just hit hasjust gone hit has just gone half past eight in the morning. we have pictures from

nasa tv, showing how the crews get to catch chills when they land on earth. i spoke to someone from the natural... it earth. i spoke to someone from the natural... . , ., ., ., natural... it has a potential that 250 grams _ natural. .. it has a potential that 250 grams of— natural... it has a potential that 250 grams of this _ natural... it has a potential that 250 grams of this material - natural... it has a potential that 250 grams of this material will. natural... it has a potential that i 250 grams of this material will be here to study. notjust for us but for future generations. here to study. notjust for us but forfuture generations. some here to study. notjust for us but for future generations. some of them are watching and being inspired now by what is going on. the most important thing really is how pristine it is. our meteorite collections are so important and fabulous. i say that as a creator. they do still experience alteration because they come through the atmosphere and sit on the sabbath and get rained on and everything else. these examples have been picked up and protected and looked after and stored in nitrogen and sent out to everybody. they give brilliant look at the time capshaw

material. as your previous employer said, a really important meeting because it contains a lot of carbon because it contains a lot of carbon because it contains a lot of carbon because it is dark. that might have been the building blocks of life. we'll be linking these asteroids and providing context of the samples that have been studied for two years already. these examples will arrive to earth and will tell us more about the origin of organics and water on earth. it the origin of organics and water on earth. . ., , . , earth. it could give us clues, it miaht earth. it could give us clues, it might have _ earth. it could give us clues, it might have this _ earth. it could give us clues, it might have this or _ earth. it could give us clues, it might have this or that. - earth. it could give us clues, it might have this or that. how i earth. it could give us clues, it i might have this or that. how long will this analysis of this material take when it comes back? to will this analysis of this material take when it comes back?- take when it comes back? to be honest, their _ take when it comes back? to be honest, their first _ take when it comes back? to be honest, their first look, - one of scientists is out in houston, waiting for it now. we will do the initial survey and the material will be sent out to mission collaborators all over the world in the next few weeks. the initial analysis might be

donein weeks. the initial analysis might be done in the first six months when we get a good look at what it is. what is really important about these missions, they are curated and looked after for years. recently there was a study done in to some of there was a study done in to some of the apollo rocks looked at 30 years after it was collected because we do not know the technologies and the capacity from the techniques in the future. the analysis never ends. a short while ago i spoke to dr natasha almeida from natural history museum. joining us now, professor sara russell in london and dr ashley king in houston. both are science team member of nasa's 0siris—rex mission and at natural history museum. what are you excited about when it comes to this mission? irate what are you excited about when it comes to this mission?— what are you excited about when it comes to this mission? we have been waitin: for comes to this mission? we have been waiting for this _ comes to this mission? we have been waiting for this mission _ comes to this mission? we have been waiting for this mission to _ comes to this mission? we have been waiting for this mission to come - waiting for this mission to come back to add that so long. it launched seven years ago but was in the planning for years before that.

we expect it might be similar to some of the meteorites in our collection in london and around the world but it might throw up surprises. i am world but it might throw up surprises. iam really world but it might throw up surprises. i am really excited to find out what it is made of. hopefully, i am sure it will be something really interesting guy really complex. it seems to be a mix of lots of different kinds of rocks and that will keep us busy for a long time to come. dr and that will keep us busy for a long time to come.— and that will keep us busy for a long time to come. dr king, you are in houston- — long time to come. dr king, you are in houston. tell— long time to come. dr king, you are in houston. tell us _ long time to come. dr king, you are in houston. tell us a _ long time to come. dr king, you are in houston. tell us a bit _ long time to come. dr king, you are in houston. tell us a bit more - long time to come. dr king, you arej in houston. tell us a bit more about that. what are we expecting to find within this 250 grams of dust and particles? within this 250 grams of dust and articles? , ~ ,., ., , particles? yes, like i said, we hope there might — particles? yes, like i said, we hope there might be _ particles? yes, like i said, we hope there might be a _ particles? yes, like i said, we hope there might be a few— particles? yes, like i said, we hope there might be a few surprises. - particles? yes, like i said, we hope there might be a few surprises. wej there might be a few surprises. we had some idea from the spacecraft, the entire spacecraft did a full geological map of the surface of the asteroid. we know from those remote observations we are likely to have minerals containing water. we know the surface of the asteroid is

really dark and that is likely to be due to the presence of organic modules. those are greenie and ingredients we need to get live kick—started on it are locked up in this precious cargo. == kick-started on it are locked up in this precious cargo.— this precious cargo. -- those ingredients. _ this precious cargo. -- those ingredients. for— this precious cargo. -- those ingredients. for those - this precious cargo. -- those ingredients. for those of - this precious cargo. -- those ingredients. for those of us. this precious cargo. -- those . ingredients. for those of us who this precious cargo. -- those - ingredients. for those of us who are not scientists, tell us about this analytical process and what you do with these substances and how it reflects the early days of the universe. reflects the early days of the universe-— reflects the early days of the universe. , ., ., universe. right. there is a whole ranue universe. right. there is a whole ranae of universe. right. there is a whole range of teams — universe. right. there is a whole range of teams that _ universe. right. there is a whole range of teams that will - universe. right. there is a whole range of teams that will be - universe. right. there is a whole i range of teams that will be working on the sample when it gets back. one team will focus on the organic material in the asteroid. that is a really fascinating subject. they are looking to see how complicated the organic molecules are and if they might have seeded life on earth or maybe on the planet as well. our team at the natural history museum is looking at the mineralogy. we are going to use the minerals inside the sample to learn about the whole

history of the solar system. they think it might contain little grains actually form before the solar system even formed and got caught up in the planet building process and thenit in the planet building process and then it will have other grains that formed when a planet formed and then it would have been changed by the geology of the asteroid. we are going to learn about this whole 4.5 billion year history by looking at this rock. idr billion year history by looking at this rock. , , . , , this rock. dr king, it is incredibly interesting _ this rock. dr king, it is incredibly interesting but _ this rock. dr king, it is incredibly interesting but also _ this rock. dr king, it is incredibly interesting but also not - this rock. dr king, it is incredibly interesting but also not cheap. l this rock. dr king, it is incrediblyj interesting but also not cheap. it has cost nasa something in the region of $1 billion. gm? has cost nasa something in the region of $1 billion.— has cost nasa something in the region of $1 billion. why is it so important? _ region of $1 billion. why is it so important? it _ region of $1 billion. why is it so important? it is _ region of $1 billion. why is it so important? it is one _ region of $1 billion. why is it so important? it is one of- region of $1 billion. why is it so important? it is one of the - region of $1 billion. why is it so i important? it is one of the biggest question— important? it is one of the biggest question is, what are our origins but how— question is, what are our origins but how do— question is, what are our origins but how do we end up with habitable planets _ but how do we end up with habitable planets like the other? where does water _ planets like the other? where does water come from? it is a fundamental thin- water come from? it is a fundamental thing that_ water come from? it is a fundamental thing that has humanity we want to try to _ thing that has humanity we want to try to answer. the other aim for this mission— try to answer. the other aim for this mission is understanding what asteroids —

this mission is understanding what asteroids are made from. there is a very small— asteroids are made from. there is a very small chance that in the next few hundred years it could potentially impact the earth. we ought _ potentially impact the earth. we ought to— potentially impact the earth. we ought to study it to learn our future — ought to study it to learn our future by— ought to study it to learn our future. by going and characterising it and _ future. by going and characterising it and what— future. by going and characterising it and what it is made of and bringing _ it and what it is made of and bringing the samples back, we get a really— bringing the samples back, we get a really detailed look. hopefully we can learn — really detailed look. hopefully we can learn a little bit about how we may he _ can learn a little bit about how we may be able to protect ourselves from _ may be able to protect ourselves from potential asteroid strikes in the future. �* . ., from potential asteroid strikes in thefuture. �* . ., the future. and i bounce back to you and ick the future. and i bounce back to you and pick un — the future. and i bounce back to you and pick up on _ the future. and i bounce back to you and pick up on that? _ the future. and i bounce back to you and pick up on that? it _ the future. and i bounce back to you and pick up on that? it has - the future. and i bounce back to you and pick up on that? it has been - and pick up on that? it has been described as one of the most dangerous rocks in the solar system, why is it so dangerous? yes. dangerous rocks in the solar system, why is it so dangerous?— why is it so dangerous? yes, it has an orbit that _ why is it so dangerous? yes, it has an orbit that comes _ why is it so dangerous? yes, it has an orbit that comes close - why is it so dangerous? yes, it has an orbit that comes close to - why is it so dangerous? yes, it has an orbit that comes close to us - an orbit that comes close to us every so often. in one of these close approaches, there is a small chanceit close approaches, there is a small chance it might impact the earth. what we want to do is learn more about this asteroid that asteroids in general to learn about their

physical properties and how they are moved by the radiation of the sun, to learning more detail how they orbit and therefore how we can try to mitigate against a potential asteroid impact. i to mitigate against a potential asteroid impact.— to mitigate against a potential asteroid impact. i will stick with ou for asteroid impact. i will stick with you for the _ asteroid impact. i will stick with you for the time _ asteroid impact. i will stick with you for the time being. - asteroid impact. i will stick with you for the time being. we - asteroid impact. i will stick with you for the time being. we are | you for the time being. we are expecting this in the next 15 to 20 minutes or so. will people be able to see anything with a naked eye with a decent telescope?- to see anything with a naked eye with a decent telescope? well, you actually can — with a decent telescope? well, you actually can see — with a decent telescope? well, you actually can see it _ with a decent telescope? well, you actually can see it with _ with a decent telescope? well, you actually can see it with telescopes. actually can see it with telescopes at the moment, or have been over the last few days. it is daylight in utah, so i don't know if people will be able to actually see it coming through. i don't know. tell be able to actually see it coming through. i don't know.— be able to actually see it coming through. i don't know. tell us more about that- — through. i don't know. tell us more about that. what _ through. i don't know. tell us more about that. what can _ through. i don't know. tell us more about that. what can regular- through. i don't know. tell us more| about that. what can regular people like me who do not know about space, what can they see this asteroid? this what can they see this asteroid? as it is going to hit the earth's atmosphere in a few minutes' time,

it will— atmosphere in a few minutes' time, it will be _ atmosphere in a few minutes' time, it will be going at nearly 30,000 miles— it will be going at nearly 30,000 miles an — it will be going at nearly 30,000 miles an hour. a few minutes after that there — miles an hour. a few minutes after that there will be parachutes which will open _ that there will be parachutes which will open up. that will start to slow _ will open up. that will start to slow it — will open up. that will start to slow it down. as it comes with the atmosphere, the outer service will -et atmosphere, the outer service will get up _ atmosphere, the outer service will get up to— atmosphere, the outer service will get up to 3000 degrees. there are heat shields on it. then it will have — heat shields on it. then it will have a — heat shields on it. then it will have a main parachute which will slow _ have a main parachute which will slow it _ have a main parachute which will slow it right down. about 30 minutes after hitting the atmosphere. really simao— after hitting the atmosphere. really simao the sample capsule will land in the _ simao the sample capsule will land in the utah desert with all its rocks — in the utah desert with all its rocks collected from bennu. they will have — rocks collected from bennu. they will have helicopters which will be looking _ will have helicopters which will be looking for the parachutes. they will be _ looking for the parachutes. they will be tracking the infrared radiation, said the heat. the helicopters will get up there as quickly— helicopters will get up there as quickly as possible and take it to incubation— quickly as possible and take it to incubation facility specially built incubation facility specially built in the _ incubation facility specially built in the desert. really exciting. we are really— in the desert. really exciting. we are really close to getting these samples — are really close to getting these samples have bennu back. as was

mentioned — samples have bennu back. as was mentioned just _ samples have bennu back. as was mentioned just then, _ samples have bennu back. as was mentioned just then, really - samples have bennu back. as was i mentioned just then, really exciting in these last few moments. this is the end of a very long mission. it started in 2016, is that right? if i can correct you, it is not the end of the mission. we work on the mission that ashley and i are doing isjust beginning. these mission that ashley and i are doing is just beginning. these samples will be studied intensively over the next days and weeks but then they are going to be around for people to study for years and even centuries to come, one of the magical things. they will be around for future generations to be able to answer their own scientific questions they may have. it is not even be end of the spacecraft. the spacecraft has dropped its precious cargo and is heading off to another asteroid to do new observations of another asteroid as well. plenty of exciting things that will happen in the mission. i things that will happen in the mission. . ,, . . things that will happen in the mission. ., ,, . ., ., things that will happen in the mission. ., , , . ., ., ., .,

mission. i appreciate we do not have either ever- — mission. i appreciate we do not have either even if— mission. i appreciate we do not have either ever. if i _ mission. i appreciate we do not have either ever. if i may _ mission. i appreciate we do not have either ever. if i may stick _ mission. i appreciate we do not have either ever. if i may stick with - mission. i appreciate we do not have either ever. if i may stick with you i either ever. if i may stick with you for the time being. does nasa or the european space agency have any more plans to run missions like this? is plans to run missions like this? is that direct it to me? plans to run missions like this? is that direct it to me? it— plans to run missions like this? is that direct it to me? it is, - plans to run missions like this? is that direct it to me? it is, yes. i that direct it to me? it is, yes. the are no _ that direct it to me? it is, yes. the are no sample _ that direct it to me? it is, yes. the are no sample return i that direct it to me? it is, yes. i the are no sample return missions that direct it to me? it is, yes. - the are no sample return missions on the books in the nearfuture. in a few weeks there is another mission which will go off to explore a metal rich asteroid. some look like they are rocky, some of them rich in carbon, some rich in metal. so much to learn about asteroids. it is really exciting. 0ther missions will also explore asteroids. also another mission which will go out to look at asteroids that i am first to see

what happened after the mission impacted that asteroid. lots of exciting things with asteroids at the moment. i exciting things with asteroids at the moment-— exciting things with asteroids at the moment. , ., , ., ., ., the moment. i understand you have to shoot off and — the moment. i understand you have to shoot off and are _ the moment. i understand you have to shoot off and are going _ the moment. i understand you have to shoot off and are going to _ the moment. i understand you have to shoot off and are going to houston i shoot off and are going to houston yourself. safe travels. we hope to catch up with you again in the future. let's stick with dr ashley king from houston. it must be a bit in a circus. scientists from around the world gathered to be part of this. , . . the world gathered to be part of this. , ., ., ., ., this. there is a team out in utah riaht this. there is a team out in utah right now. _ this. there is a team out in utah right now, recovering _ this. there is a team out in utah right now, recovering the - this. there is a team out in utah i right now, recovering the capture. tomorrow morning it will fly down to houston, where i currently am. just outside my hotel room i can see the johnson space centre. that is where the capture will come. quite a small team, six of us are gathering in houston. next week they be doing some of the first analysis on these materials. what is the mineralogy,

the composition of these rocks? using that information to guide the larger science team, the samples will go out across the world for people to study. my neck and we can see live shots coming out. they are the re—entry shots. —— brute see live shots coming out. they are the re-entry shots. --_ the re-entry shots. -- we can see the re-entry shots. -- we can see the live shots _ the re-entry shots. -- we can see the live shots coming _ the re-entry shots. -- we can see the live shots coming out. - the re-entry shots. -- we can see the live shots coming out. 11 i the live shots coming out. 11 minutes before this capsule is expected to land in the utah desert. helicopter teams will be sent to retrieve it, pick it up. it will contain 250 grams of samples from this asteroid bennu. we arejoined on grams of samples from this asteroid bennu. we are joined on the grams of samples from this asteroid bennu. we arejoined on the line by dr ashley king in houston from the natural history museum in london. when this land is, give us a sense of the timescale as to how quick is the analysis when we might begin to get some answers? thea;r the analysis when we might begin to get some answers?— get some answers? they will collect

the capsule — get some answers? they will collect the capsule as _ get some answers? they will collect the capsule as quickly _ get some answers? they will collect the capsule as quickly as _ get some answers? they will collect the capsule as quickly as they i the capsule as quickly as they possibly can. they want to minimise contamination from the utah desert. they want to get that sample are put in this clean when facility in utah. they will take the sample collector, the thing that actually touched on bennu, that will be taken out and stored in nitrogen gas. then it will come down to houston tomorrow. the very first analysis, the quick look team, will start hopefully on wednesday morning. they will have about 72 hours or so to do the very first analysis. the council hopefully will have about 250 grams of asteroid bennu locked up in it. it is the largest asteroid sample return mission we have ever had. we can do years and years of work on 250 grams. we can look at it atom by atom. there will be an initial science team for the next two years he will be studying these rocks.

they will become available to the wider science community. people will be able to use them to learn about our engines and how the solar system has evolved over the last li.5 billion years. dr has evolved over the last 4.5 billion years.— has evolved over the last 4.5 billion years. dr ashley king, a member of— billion years. dr ashley king, a member of the _ billion years. dr ashley king, a member of the osiris-rex i billion years. dr ashley king, a i member of the osiris-rex mission billion years. dr ashley king, a - member of the osiris-rex mission and member of the 0siris—rex mission and the natural history museum. i do not want to keep you on air while the excitement happens. just under ten minutes to go. thank you forjoining us. we're alsojoined on minutes to go. thank you forjoining us. we're also joined on the line from utah by our science correspondent, jonathan amos, who is watching developments. morning to you. tell us what is happening. brute you. tell us what is happening. we are all you. tell us what is happening. - are all pretty excited, i had to say. a beautiful morning in utah. the sun is up finally. it was chilly earlier. we are waiting for this capsule. it is way off in the distance in that direction from me. we are kind of hoping we might hear a bit of a sonic boom, we might see

a bit of a sonic boom, we might see a bit of light in the sky as the capture heats up as it comes through the atmosphere. it is coming through really fast, really hot, a speed of 12 kilometres a second, more than 27,000 miles an hour. as it does that by the end decided the capsule, the heat shield match will get above 3000 celsius, very hot indeed. it will keep the samples inside the capture perfectly all right. we hope. they will not be damaged in any way. we are waiting for confirmation first of all that the parachute has opened to stabilise the capsule as it moves from going supersonic to subsonic. after that we will see the main chute open and thatis we will see the main chute open and that is issued they will bring the capsule down safely, securely and slowly to a desert four. brute capsule down safely, securely and slowly to a desert four.— slowly to a desert four. we are watchin: slowly to a desert four. we are watching live _ slowly to a desert four. we are watching live pictures - slowly to a desert four. we are watching live pictures of - slowly to a desert four. we are watching live pictures of the i watching live pictures of the recovery shot. we can see the

capture coming through and a parachute opening. we saw a chair in the background. is that the capsule landed now? it is the background. is that the capsule landed now?— landed now? it is a while. if we go back to a previous _ landed now? it is a while. if we go back to a previous venture, - landed now? it is a while. if we go i back to a previous venture, genesis, in 2004. it went horribly wrong. the parachute did not open. the capsule crashed onto the ground and they spilled the contents. they were covered much of the signs but they do not want that to happen. the manufacturers looked at what had gone wrong and realised a switch had been put in the parachute mechanism back to front and made really sure that does not happen this time. we are likely to hear cheering at every stage of the descent.— stage of the descent. quite an expensive _ stage of the descent. quite an expensive mistake. _ stage of the descent. quite an expensive mistake. if- stage of the descent. quite an expensive mistake. if we i stage of the descent. quite an expensive mistake. if we are i expensive mistake. if we are expecting it to land in just over six minutes' time. if you are joining us, we are watching live

pictures of the capture returning to earth, landing in the desert in utah. this has been to an asteroid, bennu, taller than the empire state building. it has collected 250 grams of samples. it will be collected when it lands and will be analysed or potentially years to come. they are joined or potentially years to come. they arejoined on or potentially years to come. they are joined on the or potentially years to come. they arejoined on the line or potentially years to come. they are joined on the line from utah where it hasjust are joined on the line from utah where it has just gone quarter to nine in the morning by our science correspondent, jonathan amos. talk to us about the significance of this mission, why does it matter? there are a few reasons. _ mission, why does it matter? there are a few reasons. one _ mission, why does it matter? there are a few reasons. one of— mission, why does it matter? there are a few reasons. one of them i mission, why does it matter? there are a few reasons. one of them is i are a few reasons. one of them is the asteroid bennu is regarded as the asteroid bennu is regarded as the most dangerous known asteroid in the most dangerous known asteroid in the solar system. the reason for thatis the solar system. the reason for that is basically in the next 300 years there is an outside chance that it could collide with earth. more than that, it is the scientific value of getting samples from an object like this. there are two

things we are interested in. it will retain the chemistry from the formation of the solar system, about 4.5 billion years ago. we want to understand how the planets were put together. asteroids like bennu are the leftovers, their builders rubble if you like from the formation process. we also think, there is a theory that may be the important carbon chemistry to kick—start life on earth was delivered by asteroids. if you go back to the early time of the solar system, the earth would have been as hot, boiling rock and it would have driven off the volatile elements. how is it much today, 70% of planet earth is covered in water communications? where did it come from? was it delivered by asteroids like bennu way back? they deliver carbon chemistry as well. interesting complex molecules helping life to get going. flan complex molecules helping life to net anoin. . ,, complex molecules helping life to net anoin. ., ., ,, complex molecules helping life to et uuoin. ., ., ~ ,

complex molecules helping life to auaetoin. . .,~ , ., get going. can you talk us through how many people _ get going. can you talk us through how many people are _ get going. can you talk us through how many people are involved i get going. can you talk us through how many people are involved in i get going. can you talk us through. how many people are involved in an operation like this?— operation like this? probably, if ou count operation like this? probably, if you count them _ operation like this? probably, if you count them all _ operation like this? probably, if you count them all up, - operation like this? probably, if. you count them all up, thousands across the world. once the sample is down on earth can it will be distributed to scientists all across the globe. many people will be working on it for years to come, not just in the next couple of years when the main studies will be done, but 75% of this sample will go straight into the archive. that will be preserved for scientist properly who are not even born today, to work in laboratories are not even built today, using instrumentation we have not even thought of. this is a very long—term thing. if you go back to the apollo moon rocks, asteroids brought back 380 keep as of moon rock. they still have that in the archive. some of that stuff has not been touched yet. that is 50 years on from when they brought that material back. we on from when they brought that material back.— on from when they brought that material back. we are watching a countdown _ material back. we are watching a countdown clock _ material back. we are watching a

countdown clock now. _ material back. we are watching a countdown clock now. just - material back. we are watching a countdown clock now. just over i material back. we are watching a i countdown clock now. just over three minutes' time. i assume this shot comes from and navy helicopter recovery teams. just over three and a half minutes from when it is to land. these operations are often around cost and is it money well spent? how much has it cost? $1.1 billion, spent? how much has it cost? $1.1 billion. 0k. _ spent? how much has it cost? $1.1 billion, ok. quite _ spent? how much has it cost? $1.1 billion, 0k. quite a lot of money, i guess. spent over a good number of years, right? it will keep many scientists employed for a longish period of time as well. is it value for money? ask yourself this. the most profound question you could ask, how did we get here? what would you ask, how did we get here? what would y°u pay ask, how did we get here? what would you pay for the answer to that question? i you pay for the answer to that question?— you pay for the answer to that cuestion? ., , ., question? i will leave it with you. you can hear _ question? i will leave it with you. you can hear mission _ question? i will leave it with you. you can hear mission control i question? i will leave it with you. i you can hear mission control saying it has touched down. let's have a listen to that. pm

it has touched down. let's have a listen to that.— listen to that. an official touchdown _ listen to that. an official touchdown time, - listen to that. an official touchdown time, 8.50 i listen to that. an official i touchdown time, 8.50 2am. listen to that. an official _ touchdown time, 8.50 2am. mountain. the team _ touchdown time, 8.50 2am. mountain. the team can _ touchdown time, 8.50 2am. mountain. the team can now breathe an immense sili'i the team can now breathe an immense sigh of— the team can now breathe an immense sigh of relief _ the team can now breathe an immense sigh of relief. we have a returned capture _ sigh of relief. we have a returned capture containing pieces of asteroid _ capture containing pieces of asteroid bennu. you can see the reaction — asteroid bennu. you can see the reaction as— asteroid bennu. you can see the reaction as they got a sample bag on the ground — reaction as they got a sample bag on the round. , ., ., ., ., ., reaction as they got a sample bag on the ground-— the ground. jonathan, i do not know if ou the ground. jonathan, i do not know if you heard — the ground. jonathan, i do not know if you heard that, _ the ground. jonathan, i do not know if you heard that, jonathan - the ground. jonathan, i do not know if you heard that, jonathan amos, i if you heard that, jonathan amos, our science correspondent. we are seeing pictures on the screen of people cheering and clapping. the official announcement that the sample return capsule officially landed at 8.52 mountain daylight time. there must have been scientist working on this throughout their entire careers. i working on this throughout their entire careers.— entire careers. i will get to that in a second- — entire careers. i will get to that in a second. that _ entire careers. i will get to that in a second. that is _ entire careers. i will get to that in a second. that is slightly i in a second. that is slightly earlier than we were expecting. we did not expect it to come down until

five minutes to the top of the hour. it has touched the surface of planet earth a little ahead of schedule. the important thing is it looks in good shape. the parachute seemed to be well open and it gently floated down. it touched the surface of the grand probably round about ten mph, something like that, 17, 18 kilometres per hour, i think that is sprinting pace, isn't it? about how long some people have worked on it, the mission was launched seven years ago. the bennu spacecraft left back then. it was thought it would take five or six years to build the spacecraft and get all the systems ready. —— the 0siris—rex spacecraft. scientist would have been devising a mission, planning a mission for a good ten years before that. speaking to the principal investigator a couple of days ago, i think he has

been working on it for nearly 20 years. i saw him actually, he gave me a thumbs upjust as he boarded a helicopter to go out to the recovery position. what a moment for him, all that planning, to see all the way through an ad to be looking at that capture with those pressure samples on board lying on the floor of the utah desert. —— looking at that capsule. they have to get the capsule. they have to get the capsule back, bringing it back behind me, getting it in a clean room and getting ready to analyse the samples. room and getting ready to analyse the samples-— room and getting ready to analyse the samles. , . ., ., the samples. this clean room, what is it and why — the samples. this clean room, what is it and why is _ the samples. this clean room, what is it and why is it _ the samples. this clean room, what is it and why is it so _ the samples. this clean room, what is it and why is it so important? i is it and why is it so important? listen, if you think there is chemistry in these samples which can tell you about the formation of life, the creation of life on earth billions of years ago, the last thing you need when you look at those samples is to have contamination from earth, bacteria. even oxygen from the earth's

atmosphere, if it gets to the samples it will start to oxidise compounds and change composition, so you will not be looking at pristine samples. they're going to take it into a temporary clean room. they will take off the heat shield. it had a really violent re—entry. the back shelf at the top half of the capsule. within that will be any in a canister that is sealed. the sample will be in there. they want to get that canister in a box and purge it with nitrogen. nitrogen will not react with anything, it will not react with anything, it will stop the oxygen getting in. that sealed box will go to the johnson space centre. that is where all the extra terrestrial materials are kept. all the moon rocks i was talking about. they are kept there. they have built a dedicated clean room. the canister will go in there and it will be opened in the next

couple of weeks. they will unscrew all of the bolts and have a look to see how much sample they have in there. they think they have got about 250 grams. the director of planetary science at nasa said it was the weight of an adult hamster. you get the picture. sounds like it is not a lot. they brought back 380 kilos from the surface of the moon. this is actually ample, more than enough to do the type of test they want to do on it. they will be looking almost at single atoms within these samples to learn about what the early solar system is like 4.5 billion years ago. they need to do it in a clean environment clash clean surroundings. sterility is everything here, otherwise you are going to bias the results. lets everything here, otherwise you are going to bias the results.— going to bias the results. lets take

a look at the _ going to bias the results. lets take a look at the moment. _ going to bias the results. lets take a look at the moment. this - going to bias the results. lets take i a look at the moment. this happened at 8.52 mountain time. these are the shots from the recovery helicopter, just as the capsule descended through the earth's atmosphere and hit the ground. take a look at these. these are shots from one of these. these are shots from one of the recovery helicopters. it is all about collecting a sample return capture. it was expected to land at five to nine mountain time. as you had our science correspondent saying, it landed slightly ahead of time, 8.52 am. it has been to the asteroid bennu, often described as one of the most dangerous rocks in outer space, one of the most dangerous rocks in outerspace, biggerthan one of the most dangerous rocks in outer space, bigger than the empire state building. let's go back to

utah and our correspondent, jonathan amos. this sample return capture is only useful if it can make this journey successfully and come back. we have talked about the high speed it travels at high temperatures, particularly on re—entry. what is the stuff made of? the particularly on re-entry. what is the stuff made of?— the stuff made of? the sample inside? the — the stuff made of? the sample inside? the return _ the stuff made of? the sample inside? the return capture, i the stuff made of? the sample| inside? the return capture, the spacecraft _ inside? the return capture, the spacecraft and _ inside? the return capture, the spacecraft and bits _ inside? the return capture, the spacecraft and bits and - inside? the return capture, the spacecraft and bits and pieces. | inside? the return capture, the. spacecraft and bits and pieces. it has a sort of carbon shield on the underside. as it comes through the atmosphere and gets very hot, it starts to lose material on the heat shield. that takes away a lot of the energy. the inside do not get hot. they will not burn up. very important to keep the interior nice and cool. i was talking about contamination from oxygen, from bugs and all sorts of dirt here on earth. you do not want to heat that sample

should because she will change it, change some of the chemistry in it. we should also talk about the 0siris—rex spacecraft that did all the work to scoop up this sample are a few years back and put it inside that capsule to come back to earth. it carried the catch llback. it let go of the capsule about four hours ago and then it had to make a very important manoeuvre. if it carried on after the capture, it would have come into earth's atmosphere and been destroyed. bennu did not want that, they have a for it to take on a new mission. —— nasa did not want that. they have arranged a new mission. they got rid of the capsule and fired the thrusters, which made it to that just and fired the thrusters, which made it to thatjust passed a capital letter earth. should have done that at 800 kilometres, kind of a hike

that earth observation spacecraft