OSIRIS-REx Social Media Interviews

This visualization depicts the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft’s trajectory around the asteroid Bennu from the initial arrival in Dec 2018 through the final departure in April 2021. The trajectory is presented in a Sun Bennu North reference frame. Several mission segments are highlighted in white, leading up to the TAG sample collection maneuver on Oct 20, 2020. || The Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security - Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft arrived at near-Earth asteroid Bennu in December 2018. After studying the asteroid for nearly two years, the spacecraft successfully performed a Touch-And-Go (TAG) sample collection maneuver on October 20, 2020. The spacecraft will remain in asteroid Bennu’s vicinity until May 10, when the mission will enter its Return Cruise phase and begin its two-year journey back to Earth. This data visualization presents the mission’s complete trajectory during its time at Bennu. || This is a single layer of the Web Around Bennu visualization that includes just the asteroid and the orbit lines with a transparent background. || This is a single layer of the Web Around Bennu visualization that includes just the star background || This is a single layer of the Web Around Bennu visualization that includes just dates

Baseball Diamond Left || Once OSIRIS-REx has completed its Preliminary Survey of Bennu and entered orbit, it will be ready to study the asteroid in greater detail. Its observations will help mission planners to identify candidate sample sites on Bennu – areas where it is safe to collect a sample, and which are of interest to scientists. During this phase, OSIRIS-REx will: scan Bennu from pole-to-pole, globally map its surface, take high-resolution images, and study its spectra to determine the asteroid’s mineral composition. || Baseball Diamond Right || Equatorial Stations || Global Mapping || High Resolution Mapping || Regolith Close up || Spectral Mapping

OSIRIS-REx outbound orbit to asteroid Bennu, including an Earth-gravity assist approximately one year after launch. The gravity assist will adjust the spacecraft’s orbit, putting it in the same inclination as the orbit of Bennu. || The Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security - Regolith Explorer spacecraft will travel to a near-Earth asteroid, called Bennu (formerly 1999 RQ36), and bring at least a 2.1-ounce sample back to Earth for study. The mission will help scientists investigate how planets formed and how life began, as well as improve our understanding of asteroids that could impact Earth.OSIRIS-REx launched on Sept. 8, 2016, at 7:05 p.m. EDT. As planned, the spacecraft will reach its target asteroid in 2018 and return a sample to Earth in 2023. These animations depict the journey of OSIRIS-REx to Bennu and back, including the complex maneuvers that the spacecraft will perform in the asteroid s entire surface. || OSIRIS-REx scans the surface of Bennu. Video available in both 30fps and 60fps formats. || OSIRIS-REx scans one of several potential sample locations. || OSIRIS-REx will perform a series of reconnaissance passes close to the asteroid. This visualization depicts a 225 meter pass. || OSIRIS-REx will perform a series of reconnaissance passes close to the asteroid. This visualization depicts a 525 meter pass. || OSIRIS-REx Checkpoint TAG rehearsal || OSIRIS-REx Matchpoint TAG rehearsal || After studying the asteroid for more than a year, OSIRIS-REx will briefly ‘tag’ the surface to collect a small sample, which it will return to Earth in 2023. || OSIRIS-REx returns to Earth with its precious sample of asteroid Bennu. After releasing the sample return capsule, the spacecraft will go into orbit around the Sun. || 8:3 aspect ratio version of outbound orbit || 8:3 aspect ratio version of OSIRIS-REx arriving at Bennu || 8:3 aspect ratio version of return orbit

Large format image of OSIRIS-REx before sampling Bennu. || This page contains graphics and animation resources related to near-Earth asteroid Bennu, the target of NASA s OSIRIS-REx mission. || Bennu title sequence || Bennu size comparision.

OSIRIS-REx approaches Bennu || After nine months in orbit around asteroid Bennu, OSIRIS-REx will begin the process of maneuvering closer to the surface in preparation of the sample collection event. Once the sample site has been selected, OSIRIS-REx will break from its polar orbit to practice three flyovers of the site at increasing proximities, eventually matching Bennu s soil. This will force loose dust, dirt, and rocks upward into the TAGSAM head, trapping the material inside. OSIRIS-REx will then weigh and stow the captured sample for return to Earth in 2023. || TAG Arm Deploy || TAG Arm Deploy Reverse || OSIRIS-REx desending to Bennu || OSIRIS-REx approach continued || TAGSAM getting closer || OSIRIS-REx almost there || Contact || OSIRIS-REx Pulls away || TAG Maneuver Interior Cutaway || OSIRIS-REx backs away from Bennu || Sample Verification OCAMS SamCam || Sample Verification OCAMS Sam Cam 2 || Sample Mass Measurement || Sample Stowage Sequence || Sample Stowage Sequence Closeup || OSIRIS-REx Stows the TAG Arm || Returning to Earth