OSIRIX-REx probe collects largest cosmic harvest ever from beyond the Moon. NASA probe brought back to Earth last September samples taken in situ on the asteroid Bennu, 50 million kilometers from Earth.
A billion dollars for 121 grams of dust is not cheap, but since this dust dates from the formation of the solar system 4.5 billion years ago, NASA has taken out the checkbook. 70% of the material reported is put aside for the benefit of future generations and their possible best analysis tools.