NASA has launched a futuristic probe that could prove to be one of the most important missions into space in history - as it may STOP a killer asteroid smashing into Earth. The unmanned OSIRIS-REx space craft launched on Thursday, with the target of landing on the potentially deadly asteroid Bennu by 2018. In a further five years it should return to our planet with samples from the potential country killer, which it is feared could strike us in the next 200 years. The crucial data gathered will then be used to help stop the monster asteroid. At an estimated 500 metres in length, the mega rock would be unlikely to end life on Earth, but could cause widespread devastation and even wipe out a country. The asteroid is set to pass close to the Earth in 2135. So close in fact, that it is feared the gravitational pull of our planet could pull it in closer for a hit during another passby later that century. The mission was last night praised by Planetary Science Division director at NASA, Jim