The Asteroid Hunter

A Scientist's Journey to the Dawn of Our Solar System

By: Dante Lauretta

Narrated by: Dante Lauretta, Sir Brian May

Length: 7 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

A "captivating, behind-the-scenes account" of NASA’s historic OSIRIS-REx mission to return an asteroid sample and unlock the mystery of formation on life on earth braided with the remarkable life story of the mission’s leader, Dr. Dante Lauretta (Sara Seager).

On September 11, 1999, humanity made a monumental discovery in the vastness of space. Scientists uncovered an asteroid of immense scientific importance—a colossal celestial entity. As massive as an aircraft carrier and towering as high as the iconic Empire State Building, this cosmic titan was later named Bennu. Remarkable for much more than its size, Bennu belonged to a rare breed of asteroids capable of revealing the essence of life itself. But just as Bennu became a beacon of promise, researchers identified a grave danger. Hurtling through space, it threatens to collide with our planet on September 24, 2182.

Leading the expedition was Dr. Dante Lauretta, the Principal Investigator of NASA's audacious OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission. Tasked with unraveling Bennu's mysteries, his team embarked on a daring quest to retrieve a precious sample from the asteroid's surface—one that held the potential to not only unlock the secrets of life's origins but also to avert an unprecedented catastrophe.

A tale of destiny and danger, The Asteroid Hunter chronicles the high-stakes mission firsthand, narrated by Dr. Lauretta. It offers listeners an intimate glimpse into the riveting exploits of the mission and Dr. Lauretta's wild, winding personal journey to Bennu and back. Peeling back the curtain on the wonders of the cosmos, this enthralling account promises a rare glimpse into the tightly woven fabric of scientific exploration, where technical precision converges with humanity’s profound curiosity and indominable spirit.

©2024 Dante Lauretta (P)2024 Grand Central Publishing

Critic reviews

"A beautifully written, first-hand report from the scientific leader of an awe-inspiring NASA mission, aimed at the pioneering delivery of material from an ancient asteroid to Earth. While the book educates us about the technological heights of human ingenuity, the returned asteroid material would teach us about our cosmic roots within the solar system and the organic molecules that sourced life on Earth."—Avi Loeb, Professor of Science at Harvard University and bestselling author of Extraterrestrial

"In this captivating, behind-the-scenes account of the OSIRIS-REx NASA asteroid sample return mission, PI Dante Lauretta provides an unmatched portrayal of the joys and challenges from an insider's perspective. A fascinating read."—Sara Seager, Professor of physics and planetary science at MIT and award-winning author of The Smallest Lights in the Universe

"Human frailty and courage are at the heart of this unflinching book and this daring mission to understand what a rubble pile in space can tell us about life–its origins and its pageant here and now. The Asteroid Hunter explores the chancy beauty of a mission and its incredible team, its dedicated leader and the cosmos itself."—Christopher Cokinos, award-winning author of Still as Bright: An Illuminating History of the Moon from Antiquity to Tomorrow and The Fallen Sky: An Intimate History of Shooting Stars

Really enjoyable

Loved this book. Well written, well read. The story is compelling and full of beauty. I appreciate how the author manages to impart hard science problems in an approachable, entertaining way. Highly recommend.

Asteroids, NASA and Me

A series of self-observations about life, asteroids, extraterrestrials, NASA and the meaning of life.

A very engaging book.

Interesting memoir

The book is not a literary masterpiece, but a very good description of a scientific research and grand writing process. I was amazed by many problems the group led by Dante Lauretta had to solve. it struck me that no politician showed up to witness the successful landing of the asteroid sample. It was a spectacular achievement!

A great audio book

This was an inspiring listen. Surprisingly emotional. Highly recommended for an anyone interested in exploration of the solar system.

just a great book! full stop!

this audiobook is EXCELLENT the mission itself hooked me and the first interlude hauled me into the cosmos! WELL WORTH EVERY PENNY FOR EVERY MOMENT!

The "Interludes" Must Go

This title is interesting with some great science and a human journey. However, the "interludes" are extremely hokey. They interrupt the story a half dozen times with a weird anthropomorphic side story of two carbon atoms seeking to rejoin each other from across the solar system. To make it worse, the voice and Twilight Zone background noises are awful. I probably would have rated the book a 4* if not for these interludes. Also, the "it couldn't just happen" nature of the many coincidences leading to life on earth makes me more convinced of an intelligent design.

How did I not know about this!!?? I loved this entire story and the way it’s told.

How did I not know about this!!?? I loved this entire story and the way it’s told. I absolutely recommend it. He is explains everything perfectly and pulls you into the experience.

Tension before each step of discovery

The effort to create the best team to achieve their goal of collection of the surface of an asteroid to learn more about the history of the universe was well explained. I felt the stressful anxiety before each step of efforts to get the approval , the money and the go ahead from govt and astronautical higher ups. A very informative book.

Beautiful and oh so awe inspiring 🤩

Fantastic recollection of the journey it was this mission. I didn’t want it to end. So many moments where I got teary eyed and overwhelmed with emotion. What an enjoyable audiobook!

Science at its most amazing

What an outstanding story of human ingenuity and curiosity in pursuit of knowledge. Brilliant scientists and engineers!