OSIRIS-REx Animations
- Visualizations by:
- Chris Meaney
- View full credits
Movies
- OSIRIS_REx_beauty_shots_2013_appletv.m4v (960x540) [57.9 MB]
- OSIRIS_REx_beauty_shots_2013_appletv.webmhd.webm (960x540) [19.7 MB]
- OSIRIS_REx_beauty_shots_2013_youtube_hq.mov (1280x720) [66.4 MB]
- OSIRIS_REx_beauty_shots_2013_1280x720.wmv (1280x720) [62.6 MB]
- OSIRIS_REx_beauty_shots_2013.m4v (640x360) [23.1 MB]
- OSIRIS_REx_beauty_shots_2013_nasaportal.mov (640x360) [53.0 MB]
- OSIRIS_REx_beauty_shots_2013.mp4 (320x240) [12.2 MB]
Images
- OSIRIS_REx_Beauty_Shots_2013.png (1545x867) [1.2 MB]
An overview video of the OSIRIS-REx mission.
Movies
- Osiris_2013_Approach_1_appletv.m4v (960x540) [12.8 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Approach_1_appletv.webmhd.webm (960x540) [2.3 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Approach_1_1280x720.wmv (1280x720) [15.3 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Approach_1_youtube_hq.mov (1280x720) [9.4 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Approach_1_prores.mov (1280x720) [494.8 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Approach_1_nasaportal.mov (640x360) [10.8 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Approach_1_ipod_lg.m4v (640x360) [4.8 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Approach_1_ipod_sm.mp4 (320x240) [2.2 MB]
Images
- Osiris_2013_Approach_1_youtube_hq00077_print.jpg (1024x576) [91.6 KB]
The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft apporaches asteroid Bennu.
Movies
- Osiris_2013_Approach_2_appletv.m4v (960x540) [12.8 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Approach_2_appletv.webmhd.webm (960x540) [2.2 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Approach_2_prores.mov (1280x720) [488.5 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Approach_2_1280x720.wmv (1280x720) [14.9 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Approach_2_youtube_hq.mov (1280x720) [8.0 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Approach_2_nasaportal.mov (640x360) [9.9 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Approach_2_ipod_lg.m4v (640x360) [4.8 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Approach_2_ipod_sm.mp4 (320x240) [2.0 MB]
Images
- Osiris_2013_Approach_2_youtube_hq00177_print.jpg (1024x576) [110.1 KB]
Another view of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft approaching asteroid Bennu.
Movies
- Osiris_2013_Beams_appletv.m4v (960x540) [12.8 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Beams_appletv.webmhd.webm (960x540) [3.0 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Beams_youtube_hq.mov (1280x720) [9.3 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Beams_prores.mov (1280x720) [484.8 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Beams_1280x720.wmv (1280x720) [10.6 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Beams_nasaportal.mov (640x360) [11.2 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Beams_ipod_lg.m4v (640x360) [4.8 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Beams_ipod_sm.mp4 (320x240) [2.3 MB]
Images
- Osiris_2013_Beams_youtube_hq00027_print.jpg (1024x576) [99.5 KB]
- Osiris_2013_Beams_youtube_hq_thm.png (80x40) [4.9 KB]
- Osiris_2013_Beams_youtube_hq_web.png (320x180) [67.6 KB]
OSIRIS-REx performs remote sensing observations of asteroid Bennu.
Movies
- Osiris_2013_Arm_Deploy_appletv.m4v (960x540) [15.7 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Arm_Deploy_appletv.webmhd.webm (960x540) [6.5 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Arm_Deploy_prores.mov (1280x720) [573.5 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Arm_Deploy_youtube_hq.mov (1280x720) [20.0 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Arm_Deploy_1280x720.wmv (1280x720) [19.3 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Arm_Deploy_nasaportal.mov (640x360) [15.7 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Arm_Deploy_ipod_lg.m4v (640x360) [5.9 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Arm_Deploy_ipod_sm.mp4 (320x240) [3.0 MB]
Images
- OSIRIS_Arm_Deploy_print.jpg (1024x576) [176.1 KB]
- OSIRIS_Arm_Deploy.jpg (1280x720) [162.9 KB]
- OSIRIS_Arm_Deploy_thm.png (80x40) [5.7 KB]
- OSIRIS_Arm_Deploy_web.png (320x180) [92.1 KB]
- OSIRIS_Arm_Deploy_searchweb.png (320x180) [92.1 KB]
OSIRIS-REx deploys its Touch-And-Go Sample Acquisition Mechansim (TAGSAM) instrument.
Movies
- Osiris_2013_Touch_appletv.m4v (960x540) [10.9 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Touch_appletv.webmhd.webm (960x540) [2.6 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Touch_1280x720.wmv (1280x720) [11.5 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Touch_prores.mov (1280x720) [394.0 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Touch_youtube_hq.mov (1280x720) [6.3 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Touch_nasaportal.mov (640x360) [9.8 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Touch_ipod_lg.m4v (640x360) [4.2 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Touch_ipod_sm.mp4 (320x240) [2.0 MB]
Images
- Osiris_2013_Touch_youtube_hq00002_print.jpg (1024x576) [76.4 KB]
OSIRIS-REx collects a sample of asteroid Bennu.
Movies
- tagsam3D_appletv.m4v (960x540) [2.8 MB]
- tagsam3D_appletv.webmhd.webm (960x540) [803.6 KB]
- tagsam3D_1280x720.wmv (1280x720) [2.2 MB]
- tagsam3D_prores.mov (1280x720) [162.8 MB]
- tagsam3D_youtube_hq.mov (1920x1080) [4.5 MB]
- tagsam3D_nasaportal.mov (640x360) [2.4 MB]
- tagsam3D_ipod_lg.m4v (640x360) [1.3 MB]
- tagsam3D_ipod_sm.mp4 (320x240) [583.2 KB]
Images
- tagsam3D_youtube_hq00027_print.jpg (1024x576) [105.2 KB]
- tagsam3D_youtube_hq_thm.png (80x40) [5.4 KB]
- tagsam3D_youtube_hq_web.png (320x180) [69.7 KB]
Exterior view of OSIRIS-REx collecting a sample of asteroid Bennu with its Touch-And-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM).
Movies
- tagsamBlue_appletv.m4v (960x540) [3.9 MB]
- tagsamBlue_appletv.webmhd.webm (960x540) [1.5 MB]
- tagsamBlue_1280x720.wmv (1280x720) [4.3 MB]
- tagsamBlue_youtube_hq.mov (1920x1080) [6.4 MB]
- tagsamBlue_ipod_lg.m4v (640x360) [1.7 MB]
- tagsamBlue_nasaportal.mov (640x360) [3.2 MB]
- tagsamBlue.mp4 (320x240) [829.6 KB]
- tagsamBlue_ipod_sm.mp4 (320x240) [829.6 KB]
Images
- tagsamBlue_youtube_hq00002_print.jpg (1024x576) [90.2 KB]
- tagsamBlue_youtube_hq_thm.png (80x40) [5.2 KB]
- tagsamBlue_youtube_hq_web.png (320x180) [62.7 KB]
Cutaway view of the Touch-And-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM) collecting a sample of asteroid Bennu.
Movies
- Osiris_2013_Weigh_appletv.m4v (960x540) [9.7 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Weigh_appletv.webmhd.webm (960x540) [3.3 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Weigh_1280x720.wmv (1280x720) [12.6 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Weigh_youtube_hq.mov (1280x720) [11.7 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Weigh_prores.mov (1280x720) [360.9 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Weigh_nasaportal.mov (640x360) [9.7 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Weigh_ipod_lg.m4v (640x360) [3.6 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Weigh_ipod_sm.mp4 (320x240) [1.8 MB]
Images
- Osiris_2013_Weigh_youtube_hq00002_print.jpg (1024x576) [97.9 KB]
- Osiris_2013_Weigh_youtube_hq_thm.png (80x40) [3.5 KB]
- Osiris_2013_Weigh_youtube_hq_web.png (320x180) [59.2 KB]
OSIRIS-REx performs a spin maneuver to dertermine the mass of the sample.
Movies
- Osiris_2013_Stow_appletv.m4v (960x540) [10.4 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Stow_appletv.webmhd.webm (960x540) [3.7 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Stow_youtube_hq.mov (1280x720) [10.6 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Stow_1280x720.wmv (1280x720) [11.8 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Stow_prores.mov (1280x720) [373.3 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Stow_nasaportal.mov (640x360) [9.8 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Stow_ipod_lg.m4v (640x360) [3.9 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Stow_ipod_sm.mp4 (320x240) [1.9 MB]
Images
- Osiris_2013_Stow_youtube_hq00002_print.jpg (1024x576) [81.7 KB]
- Osiris_2013_Stow_youtube_hq_thm.png (80x40) [3.1 KB]
- Osiris_2013_Stow_youtube_hq_web.png (320x180) [51.5 KB]
OSIRIS-REx stores its sample of asteroid Bennu inside the Sample Return Capsule (SRC).
Movies
- Osiris_2013_Earth_Return_appletv.m4v (960x540) [8.0 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Earth_Return_appletv.webmhd.webm (960x540) [2.9 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Earth_Return_1280x720.wmv (1280x720) [9.8 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Earth_Return_prores.mov (1280x720) [278.2 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Earth_Return_youtube_hq.mov (1280x720) [7.1 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Earth_Return_nasaportal.mov (640x360) [8.0 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Earth_Return_ipod_lg.m4v (640x360) [3.0 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Earth_Return_ipod_sm.mp4 (320x240) [1.5 MB]
Images
- Osiris_2013_Earth_Return_youtube_hq00052_print.jpg (1024x576) [93.0 KB]
- Osiris_2013_Earth_Return_youtube_hq_thm.png (80x40) [4.2 KB]
- Osiris_2013_Earth_Return_youtube_hq_web.png (320x180) [57.8 KB]
OSIRIS-REx returns its sample of asteroid Bennu to Earth.
Movies
- Osiris_2013_Spin_appletv.m4v (960x540) [8.6 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Spin_appletv.webmhd.webm (960x540) [2.2 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Spin_youtube_hq.mov (1280x720) [5.4 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Spin_1280x720.wmv (1280x720) [9.5 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Spin_prores.mov (1280x720) [338.9 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Spin_ipod_lg.m4v (640x360) [3.6 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Spin_nasaportal.mov (640x360) [5.8 MB]
- Osiris_2013_Spin_ipod_sm.mp4 (320x240) [1.3 MB]
Images
- Osiris_2013_Spin_youtube_hq00077_print.jpg (1024x576) [84.9 KB]
- Osiris_2013_Spin_youtube_hq_thm.png (80x40) [3.5 KB]
- Osiris_2013_Spin_youtube_hq_web.png (320x180) [53.7 KB]
A 360 degree view of OSIRIS-REx.
Movies
- neo_flyby_generic_appletv.m4v (960x540) [7.5 MB]
- neo_flyby_generic_appletv.webmhd.webm (960x540) [1.8 MB]
- neo_flyby_generic_1280x720.wmv (1280x720) [8.8 MB]
- neo_flyby_generic_prores.mov (1280x720) [119.8 MB]
- neo_flyby_generic_youtube_hq.mov (1920x1080) [6.9 MB]
- neo_flyby_generic_nasaportal.mov (640x360) [5.6 MB]
- neo_flyby_generic_ipod_lg.m4v (640x360) [3.0 MB]
- neo_flyby_generic_ipod_sm.mp4 (320x240) [1.2 MB]
Images
- neo_flyby_generic_youtube_hq00077_print.jpg (1024x576) [20.9 KB]
- neo_flyby_generic_youtube_hq_thm.png (80x40) [1.0 KB]
- neo_flyby_generic_youtube_hq_web.png (320x180) [11.5 KB]
Artist's conception of a near-Earth asteroid flying past our planet.
Movies
- yarkovsky_animation_realistic_appletv.m4v (960x540) [6.3 MB]
- yarkovsky_animation_realistic_appletv.webmhd.webm (960x540) [2.2 MB]
- yarkovsky_animation_realistic_1280x720.wmv (1280x720) [9.5 MB]
- yarkovsky_animation_realistic.mov (1280x720) [70.0 MB]
- yarkovsky_animation_realistic_youtube_hq.mov (1920x850) [6.3 MB]
- yarkovsky_animation_realistic_nasaportal.mov (640x360) [4.0 MB]
- yarkovsky_animation_realistic_ipod_lg.m4v (640x360) [3.0 MB]
- yarkovsky_animation_realistic_ipod_sm.mp4 (320x240) [1.1 MB]
Images
- yarkovsky_animation_realistic_youtube_hq00027_print.jpg (1023x453) [24.6 KB]
- yarkovsky_animation_realistic_youtube_hq_thm.png (80x40) [2.2 KB]
- yarkovsky_animation_realistic_youtube_hq_web.png (320x141) [15.7 KB]
An animation depicting the Yarkovsky effect, the effect of solar heating on a rotating asteroid.
For More Information
Credits
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
Animators
- Chris Meaney (KBRwyle) [Lead]
- Chris Smith (KBRwyle)
- Tyler Chase (USRA)
Scientist
- Dante Lauretta (The University of Arizona)
Producer
- Dan Gallagher (KBRwyle)
Project support
- Swarupa Nune (InuTeq)
Missions
This visualization is related to the following missions:Related pages
OSIRIS-REx L-14 Press Briefing Graphics
Aug. 16th, 2016
Read more1. Gordon Johnston - Spacecraft introduction 2. Gordon Johnston - OSIRIS-REx mission timeline 3. Gordon Johnston - OSIRIS-REx mission partners 1. Jeffrey Grossman - New Frontiers overview 2. Jeffrey Grossman - Asteroid exploration timeline 3. Jeffrey Grossman - OSIRIS-REx exploration 4. Jeffrey Grossman - Previous sample return missions 1. Dante Lauretta - OSIRIS-REx mission acronym 2. Dante Lauretta - Origins 3. Dante Lauretta - Spectral Interpretation 4. Dante Lauretta - Resource Identification 5. Dante Lauretta - Security 6. Dante Lauretta - Regolith Explorer 1. Christina Richey - Asteroid Bennu accessibility 2. Christina Richey - Asteroid Bennu size 3. Christina Richey - Asteroid Bennu composition 1. Rich Kuhns - OSIRIS-REx construction and shipping 2. Rich Kuhns - TAGSAM testing 3. Rich Kuhns - TAGSAM animation 1. Mike Donnelly - OSIRIS-REx instruments 2. Mike Donnelly - Kennedy Space Center arrival TV Backdrop - Large-format image of OSIRIS-REx preparing to sample asteroid Bennu OSIRIS-REx is on a mission to study asteroid Bennu and return a sample to Earth. The graphics on this page were created to support the OSIRIS-REx L-14 press briefing at NASA headquarters on August 17, 2016. All videos are available for download in broadcast quality. The majority of the videos do not contain audio. Links to 4K-resolution versions appear at the bottom of the page.Watch the OSIRIS-REx L-14 press conference.Learn more about OSIRIS-REx from NASA and the University of Arizona. For More InformationSee [NASA.gov](http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/osiris-rex/index.html) Related pages
OSIRIS-REx Technology: OVIRS
July 25th, 2016
Read moreOSIRIS-REx will use its visible and infrared spectrometer (OVIRS) to study the chemical composition of Bennu, a near-Earth asteroid that may hold clues to the origins of life.Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available. Animated diagram of the OVIRS spectrometer, tracing the path of light through the instrument.Credit: NASA/Goddard/CI Lab/Walt Feimer The OVIRS instrument will allow OSIRIS-REx to hunt for organic molecules on asteroid Bennu.Credit: NASA/Goddard/Dan Gallagher OSIRIS-REx Visible and Infrared Spectrometer (OVIRS)Credit: NASA/Goddard/Bill Hrybyk Engineers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center put the finishing touches on OVIRS.Credit: NASA/Goddard/Bill Hrybyk NASA is sending the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft to explore near-Earth asteroid Bennu, a carbon-rich body that may contain clues to the origins of life. When OSIRIS-REx arrives at Bennu in 2018, it will spend over a year orbiting the asteroid and studying it with a suite of remote sensing instruments. The OSIRIS-REx Visible and Infrared Spectrometer, or OVIRS, will look at Bennu's spectral signature to detect organics and other minerals. After OVIRS and its fellow instruments have thoroughly surveyed Bennu, OSIRIS-REx will descend to the asteroid's surface, collect a sample, and return it to Earth in 2023.Learn more about the OVIRS instrument.Visit the OSIRIS-REx mission website. For More InformationSee [NASA.gov](http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/osiris-rex/index.html) Related pages
NASA's OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission
April 29th, 2016
Read moreDante Lauretta, the Principal Investigator for OSIRIS-REx, gives an overview of the asteroid sample return mission.Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available. The OSIRIS-REx mission, launching in September 2016, plans to return a sample of asteroid Bennu to Earth in 2023 so that scientists can study pristine material left over from the early solar system. Learn more at nasa.gov/osiris-rex and asteroidmission.org. For More InformationSee [NASA.gov](http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/osiris-rex/index.html) Related pages
Student Scientists: Building REXIS
March 14th, 2016
Read moreCollege students in Boston are getting the chance to help NASA explore an asteroid. These student scientists have built an instrument called REXIS, which will fly on the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft that launches in September 2016. This video puts a spotlight on a group of these students and their experience on the REXIS project.Watch this video on the NASAgovVideo YouTube channel. For More InformationSee [http://www.asteroidmission.org](http://www.asteroidmission.org) Related pages
How Sunlight Pushes Asteroids
July 29th, 2015
Read moreRotating asteroids have a tough time sticking to their orbits. Their surfaces heat up during the day and cool down at night, giving off radiation that can act as a sort of mini-thruster. This force, called the Yarkovsky effect, can cause rotating asteroids to drift widely over time, making it hard for scientists to predict their long-term risk to Earth. Watch this video on the NASAexplorer YouTube channel.For complete transcript, click here. ANIMATION - Sunlight alters the orbit of a rotating asteroid via the Yarkovsky effect. Near-Earth asteroids like Bennu pose a potential danger to our planet, so it's important to predict their orbits with great accuracy. Unfortunately, a phenomenon called the Yarkovsky effect can make these predictions difficult over long time periods. How does this effect work?When sunlight strikes a rotating asteroid, the dayside heats up; as the asteroid turns, the night side cools and releases the heat, exerting a small thrust that can change the asteroid's direction over time. In order to learn more about this process on asteroid Bennu, NASA is sending a spacecraft called OSIRIS-REx to make detailed observations of Bennu's shape, brightness, and surface features. These factors are thought to influence the Yarkovsky effect, and understanding how will enable scientists to better predict the orbit of Bennu and other near-Earth asteroids. For More InformationSee [http://www.asteroidmission.org/](http://www.asteroidmission.org/) Related pages
Instagram: Bennu's Journey
Nov. 18th, 2014
Read moreFor complete transcript, click here. For complete transcript, click here. For complete transcript, click here. For complete transcript, click here. For complete transcript, click here. For complete transcript, click here. Born from the rubble of a violent collision, hurled through space for millions of years, Asteroid Bennu has had a tough life in a rough neighborhood - the early solar system. Bennu's Journey shows what is known and what remains mysterious about the evolution of Bennu and the planets. By retrieving a sample of Bennu, OSIRIS-REx will teach us more about the raw ingredients of the solar system and our own origins.Below is a series of 15-second videos that can be found on NASA Goddard's Instagram and Flickr. For More InformationSee [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/osiris-rex/index.html](http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/osiris-rex/index.html) Related pages
Bennu's Journey
Nov. 18th, 2014
Read moreBennu's Journey movie poster Bennu's Journey Full Resolution For complete transcript, click here.Watch this video on the NASAexplorer YouTube channel. Bennu's Journey Letterboxed Bennu's Journey Cropped Bennu's Journey - no voiceover Bennu's Journey - Spanish Language Version Bennu's Journey is a 6-minute animated movie about NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission, asteroid Bennu, and the formation of our solar system. Born from the rubble of a violent collision, hurled through space for millions of years, asteroid Bennu has had a tough life in a rough neighborhood - the early solar system. Bennu's Journey shows what is known and what remains mysterious about the evolution of Bennu and the planets. By retrieving a sample of Bennu, OSIRIS-REx will teach us more about the raw ingredients of the solar system and our own origins.The animation was produced in an 8 x 3 aspect ratio at a resolution of 5760 x 2160 and is available in its full resolution, 4K Ultra HD, 1080HD and 720HD versions in both a letter boxed and a 16 x 9 cropped format. For More InformationSee [http://www.asteroidmission.org](http://www.asteroidmission.org) Related pages
Playing Tag With an Asteroid
Feb. 4th, 2014
Read more"Playing Tag With an Asteroid" is a video demonstrating how OSIRIS-REx will use it's TAGSAM instrument to get a sample of the asteroid Bennu.For complete transcript, click here. What’s the best way get a sample of an asteroid? Play tag with it! That’s the plan for OSIRIS-REx, a NASA spacecraft that will approach the asteroid Bennu in 2018. The collection will be done with an instrument on board called the Touch-And-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism, or, TAGSAM. Learn how it works in this video. Related pages
OSIRIS-REx Mission Overview
May 16th, 2013
Read moreThis narrated video provides an overiew of the OSIRIS-REx mission to observe asteroid Bennu and retreive a sample for study on Earth.For complete transcript, click here. OSIRIS-REx will visit a Near Earth asteroid called Bennu and return with samples that may hold clues to the origins of the solar system and perhaps life itself. It will also investigate the asteroid's chance of impacting Earth in 2182. For the mission, NASA has selected the team led by Principal Investigator Dr. Dante Lauretta from the University of Arizona. NASA GSFC will manage the mission and Lockheed Martin Space Systems will build the spacecraft. Arizona State University will supply the OTES instrument; NASA GSFC will supply the OVIRS instrument; the Canadian Space Agency will supply the OLA instrument; the University of Arizona will supply the OCAMS camera suite; Harvard/MIT will supply the REXIS instrument; and Flight Dynamics will supply the KinetX instrument. For More InformationSee [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/osiris-rex/index.html](http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/osiris-rex/index.html) Related pages
OSIRIS-REx Targets Near-Earth Asteroid
Feb. 7th, 2013
Read moreNASA is sending the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft to asteroid Bennu to better understand the evolution of its orbit and retrieve a pristine sample for study on Earth.For complete transcript, click here. OSIRS-REx Principal Investigator Dante Lauretta, University of Arizona, discusses the flyby of asteroid 2012 DA14. This video file contains animations of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft and an interview with NASA Deputy Project Scientist Dr. Joseph Nuth. On February 15, 2013, a 45-meter asteroid called Duende (formerly 2012 DA14) passed within 28,000 kilometers of Earth - the closest approach on record for an object of this size. Although such Near-Earth Objects, or NEO's, cross our planet's orbit on a regular basis, only a handful are large enough to pose a threat. One of these objects is asteroid Bennu (formerly 1999 RQ36), a "leftover" from the formation of our solar system. In an effort to better understand NEO's and our planet's own origins, NASA is sending the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft to asteroid Bennu to study the evolution of its orbit and retrieve a sample for return to Earth. For More InformationSee [http://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/features/osiris-rex-security.html](http://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/features/osiris-rex-security.html) Related pages
Most Wanted
May 16th, 2012
Read moreNASA invites amateur astronomers to investigate key asteroids. Although its composition is unknown, scientists think asteroid 1999 RQ36 is made up of materials present when the solar system formed. At least 2 ounces of sample will be collected from the asteroid, which is about 1,900 feet in diameter. The asteroid sample will be placed inside a capsule that is jettisoned from the spacecraft and returned to Earth. Simulated cratering and topography are overlaid on radar imagery of asteroid 1999 RQ36. Pop radar! Doppler images, presented in the style of Andy Warhol, show views of asteroid 1999 RQ36 from Earth. Amateur astronomers can join "Target Asteroids!" which complements observing campaigns by amateurs and NASA's Near-Earth Object Program. For More InformationSee [NASA.gov](http://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/features/osiris-rex-update.html) Related pages