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OSIRIS-REx Begins its Countdown to TAG
September 24, 2020 -A historic moment is on the horizon for NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission. In just a few weeks, the robotic OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will descend to asteroid Bennu’s boulder-strewn surface, touch down for a few seconds and collect a sample of the...
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx to Asteroid Bennu: “You’ve got a little Vesta on you…”
September 21, 2020 -In an interplanetary faux pas, it appears some pieces of asteroid Vesta ended up on asteroid Bennu, according to observations from NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. The new result sheds light on the intricate orbital dance of asteroids and...
Where Rocks Come Alive: OSIRIS-REx Observes an Asteroid in Action
September 9, 2020 -It's 5 o'clock somewhere – and while here on Earth, "happy hour" is commonly associated with winding down and the optional cold beverage, that's when things get going on Bennu, the destination asteroid of the University of Arizona-led...
A Successful Second Rehearsal Puts NASA’s OSIRIS-REx on a Path to Sample Collection
August 12, 2020 -NASA’s first asteroid-sampling spacecraft just completed its second successful sample collection rehearsal and is now ready for the main event – touching down on asteroid Bennu’s surface in October. Yesterday, the OSIRIS-REx...
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Is One Rehearsal Away from Touching Asteroid Bennu
August 6, 2020 -NASA’s first asteroid sampling spacecraft is making final preparations to grab a sample from asteroid Bennu’s surface. Next week, the OSIRIS-REx mission will conduct a second rehearsal of its touchdown sequence, practicing the sample...
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Discovers Sunlight Can Crack Rocks on Asteroid Bennu
June 9, 2020 -Asteroids don’t just sit there doing nothing as they orbit the Sun. They get bombarded by meteoroids, blasted by space radiation, and now, for the first time, scientists are seeing evidence that even a little sunshine can wear them...
Asteroids Bennu and Ryugu May Have Formed Directly From Collision in Space
June 1, 2020 -Scientists with NASA's first asteroid sample return mission, OSIRIS-REx, are gaining a new understanding of asteroid Bennu's carbon-rich material and signature "spinning-top" shape. The team, led by the University of Arizona, has...
OSIRIS-REx Performs Closest Flyover of Sample Site Osprey
May 27, 2020 -NASA’s first asteroid-sampling spacecraft has had another close encounter with asteroid Bennu. Yesterday, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft executed its lowest pass yet over sample site Osprey, taking observations from an altitude of 820...
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Ready for Touchdown on Asteroid Bennu
May 20, 2020 -NASA’s first asteroid sample return mission is officially prepared for its long-awaited touchdown on asteroid Bennu’s surface. The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security – Regolith Explorer...
One Step Closer to Touching Asteroid Bennu
April 15, 2020 -After the successful completion of its “Checkpoint” rehearsal, NASA’s first asteroid-sampling spacecraft is one step closer to touching down on asteroid Bennu. Yesterday, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft performed the first practice...