OSIRIS-REx Technology: OVIRS

  • Released Monday, July 25th, 2016
  • Updated Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023 at 1:48PM
  • ID: 12309

OSIRIS-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.

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.

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

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

Engineers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center put the finishing touches on OVIRS.
Credit: NASA/Goddard/Bill Hrybyk

For More Information

See NASA.gov

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NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

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