zoom_in Click to enlarge

OSIRIS-REx (Bennu Sample Return)

▲ ▼

description OSIRIS-REx (Bennu Sample Return) Overview

Launched in 2016, NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission traveled to the near-Earth asteroid 101955 Bennu to collect material for laboratory study on Earth. The spacecraft arrived in 2018 and spent roughly two years mapping the surface and evaluating a sampling location. In October 2020, it gathered rocks and dust during a brief contact with the asteroid rather than landing for an extended surface stay. The sample capsule separated from the spacecraft and landed in the Utah desert in September 2023.

Its contents give scientists material collected directly from an asteroid, with the sampling context documented by the mission's observations. That distinguishes the investigation from studying meteorites whose origins and exposure histories can be harder to establish. OSIRIS-REx is particularly relevant to questions about the early solar system, connecting remote observations with detailed measurements of returned physical samples.

help OSIRIS-REx (Bennu Sample Return) FAQ

When did the OSIRIS-REx capsule return the asteroid sample to Earth?

The OSIRIS-REx sample return capsule successfully landed in the Utah desert on September 24, 2023. It successfully brought back roughly 250 grams of surface material collected from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu.

What was the main scientific purpose of the OSIRIS-REx mission?

OSIRIS-REx was launched to study the near-Earth asteroid Bennu and return a pristine carbon-rich sample to our planet. Scientists are analyzing the sample to better understand the formation of the early solar system and the origins of organic molecules.

When did the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft briefly touch the surface of asteroid Bennu?

The spacecraft performed its 'Touch-And-Go' (TAG) maneuver to collect the sample on October 20, 2020. During this brief contact, it fired a burst of nitrogen gas to agitate the surface and capture the loose regolith.

Will the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft continue to explore space after dropping off its sample?

Yes, after dropping off its sample at Earth in 2023, the main spacecraft continued on a new trajectory. It has been redirected to study the infamous near-Earth asteroid Apophis during its close approach to Earth in 2029, under the extended mission name OSIRIS-APEX.

swap_horiz

Looking for OSIRIS-REx (Bennu Sample Return) alternatives? Compare top competitors ranked & scored

arrow_forward