OSIRIS-REx, short for Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer, is a NASA spacecraft designed to study the asteroid Bennu and return a sample of its surface material to Earth. Launched in 2016, OSIRIS-REx aims to provide insights into the early solar system and the origin of life on Earth, as well as assess the asteroid’s potential as a future resource.
Design and Construction
OSIRIS-REx features a compact design with a mass of approximately 2,110 kilograms, including propellant. It is equipped with a suite of scientific instruments, including cameras, spectrometers, and a laser altimeter, to study Bennu’s surface composition, morphology, and geology. The spacecraft’s construction includes lightweight materials and precision components to ensure mission success.
Mission Objectives
The primary objective of OSIRIS-REx is to collect a sample of regolith, or surface material, from the asteroid Bennu and return it to Earth for analysis. Additionally, the mission aims to study Bennu’s composition, structure, and dynamics to better understand the formation and evolution of the solar system.
Launch and Deployment
OSIRIS-REx was launched aboard an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on September 8, 2016. After a two-year journey to Bennu, the spacecraft arrived at the asteroid in December 2018. It conducted extensive surveys and observations to select a suitable sample collection site before executing a touch-and-go maneuver to collect the sample in October 2020.
Technical Specifications
- Dimensions: Approximately 3 meters tall and 2.5 meters wide (with solar panels deployed)
- Weight: Approximately 2,110 kilograms (including propellant)
- Propulsion system: Hydrazine thrusters
- Power source: Solar panels
- Instruments and Equipment:
- OCAMS (OSIRIS-REx Camera Suite)
- OLA (OSIRIS-REx Laser Altimeter)
- OTES (OSIRIS-REx Thermal Emission Spectrometer)
- TAGSAM (Touch-And-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism)
Current Status
OSIRIS-REx successfully collected a sample from Bennu’s surface in October 2020. The spacecraft is currently in the process of storing the sample in its Sample Return Capsule for the journey back to Earth, expected to arrive in September 2023. Upon return, scientists will analyze the sample to gain insights into the composition and history of Bennu and the early solar system.
