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NASA OSIRIS-REx

Lockheed Martin · Asteroid Sample Return Mission (Bennu) · USA · Digital Age (2010–present)

NASA OSIRIS-REx — Asteroid Sample Return Mission (Bennu)
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The OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer) is an American small-body material return spacecraft — Lockheed Martin's NASA New Frontiers Program mission that returned the first US near-Earth-object specimen. Lockheed Martin built OSIRIS-REx at Denver in 2011-2016; launched on an Atlas V 411 from Cape Canaveral on 8 September 2016; arrived at asteroid Bennu on 3 December 2018; collected material on 20 October 2020; returned the specimen to Earth on 24 September 2023. The spacecraft is continuing as OSIRIS-APEX, en route to asteroid Apophis (arrival 2029).

OSIRIS-REx is a roughly cubic spacecraft (2.4 × 2.4 × 3.1 m) with a TAGSAM (Touch-And-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism) arm. Dry mass 1,529 kg, launch mass 2,110 kg. Power: 2 × solar panels of ~3 m² each (totalling 8.5 m²). Instruments: OCAMS camera suite, OVIRS visible + IR spectrometer, OTES thermal-emission spectrometer, OLA laser altimeter, REXIS X-ray imaging spectrometer. The TAGSAM arm extends a collection head that briefly touches the asteroid surface (~5-second contact) + uses nitrogen gas-jets to lift regolith into the storage container — a touch-and-go method that avoids landing complications on a low-gravity target (Bennu has surface gravity ~10⁻⁵ g).

OSIRIS-REx's October 2020 specimen collection at Bennu's Nightingale site was a major success — the TAGSAM head over-collected (the spacecraft retrieved 121.6 g of regolith, far exceeding the 60 g minimum) + the storage canister almost couldn't close due to overflow. The return capsule re-entered Earth's atmosphere on 24 September 2023 + landed at Utah Test and Training Range; the material was transferred to NASA Johnson Space Center. Analysis 2023-2025 found the material contains water + organic-carbon compounds (including amino acids), supporting hypotheses about delivery of life-forming molecules to early Earth by carbonaceous-chondrite asteroids. The OSIRIS-APEX mission extension will rendezvous with the near-Earth object 99942 Apophis during its close Earth flyby in April 2029.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

OSIRIS-REx is an American spacecraft built by Lockheed Martin for NASA. It was made to fly to an asteroid, collect some rocks and dust, and bring them back to Earth. It launched on September 8, 2016, from Cape Canaveral in Florida.

The spacecraft traveled to asteroid Bennu. It arrived there on December 3, 2018. On October 20, 2020, it reached out with a special arm to grab a sample from the asteroid's surface. The arm touched the surface for only about five seconds!

OSIRIS-REx is roughly box-shaped and about as tall as a full-grown giraffe. It has two large solar panels that soak up sunlight to make power. It also carried five science tools to study Bennu up close.

On September 24, 2023, the sample capsule landed back on Earth. Scientists found over 120 grams of dust and rocky bits from Bennu inside. They also found signs of water and amino acids — ingredients that are important for life!

The spacecraft did not stop there. It kept flying and is now on its way to another asteroid called Apophis. It is expected to arrive in 2029. The mission has a new name now: OSIRIS-APEX.

Fun Facts

  • OSIRIS-REx traveled all the way to asteroid Bennu, which is millions of miles from Earth.
  • The spacecraft's sample arm touched Bennu's surface for only about five seconds to grab dust and rocks.
  • Scientists found water and amino acids in the Bennu sample — building blocks that matter for life.
  • OSIRIS-REx is taller than a full-grown giraffe, standing about three meters high.
  • The spacecraft was built in Denver, Colorado between 2011 and 2016.
  • OSIRIS-REx carried five different science tools to study the asteroid up close.
  • After dropping off the sample, the spacecraft kept going and is now heading to a new asteroid called Apophis.
  • The sample it brought back was the first asteroid material ever returned by an American spacecraft.

Kids’ Questions

How did OSIRIS-REx grab rocks from an asteroid?

It used a special arm called TAGSAM. The arm touched the asteroid surface for about five seconds. Then it blasted nitrogen gas to blow dust and rocks into a storage container. It worked like a tiny vacuum cleaner in space!

Why did scientists want rocks from asteroid Bennu?

Asteroids are very old — they are like time capsules from when our solar system formed. Scientists studied the Bennu sample and found water and amino acids. These clues help us learn how life on Earth might have started.

Is OSIRIS-REx still flying in space?

Yes! After it dropped off the sample, the spacecraft kept going. It now has a new name: OSIRIS-APEX. It is heading to another asteroid called Apophis and should get there in 2029.

How big is OSIRIS-REx?

OSIRIS-REx is roughly box-shaped and taller than a full-grown giraffe. It has two solar panels that together cover about as much area as a large dining table. It weighed about as much as a small car when it launched.

Variants

OSIRIS-REx (2016-2023)
Original Bennu mission.
OSIRIS-APEX (2023-2029)
Extended mission. Apophis encounter 2029.

Notable Operators

NASA New Frontiers Program (2016-present)
Sole operator. Goddard Space Flight Center mission management.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did the Bennu sample reveal?

Preliminary analysis 2023-2025 of the 121 g Bennu material by NASA + international scientists found: (1) abundant hydrated minerals — clays containing water locked in their structure, indicating Bennu's parent body experienced water-rock interactions in the early solar system; (2) organic carbon compounds including amino-acid precursors + simple amino acids — supporting the hypothesis that carbonaceous-chondrite bodies delivered prebiotic molecules to early Earth, contributing to the chemical conditions for life; (3) phosphate minerals + magnesium-rich silicates suggesting Bennu formed from material in the outer asteroid belt + later migrated inward. The material is currently being distributed to researchers worldwide; 25% will be reserved for future generations + better-instrumented analysis (similar to Apollo lunar-material preservation policy).

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