Nasa’s OSIRIS-REx Spacecraft : Back To Earth

Nasa’s OSIRIS-REx Spacecraft : Back To Earth

Nasa’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, currently on a return journey from asteroid Bennu, recently made a critical course adjustment to ensure its successful arrival back to Earth.

• OSIRIS-REx is a NASA spacecraft mission designed to study the near-Earth asteroid called Bennu.
• The name OSIRIS-REx stands for “Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer.”
• Goal is to collect a sample weighing at least 2.1 ounces (59.5 grams) from asteroid 101955 Bennu (formerly known as 1999 RQ36) and then bring the sample to Earth.
• 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.
• It is the first U.S. spacecraft to collect a sample from an asteroid.
• It was launched on Sept. 8, 2016.
• It reached its asteroid target in 2018 and is bringing a small sample to Earth for study.
• The samples will arrive on Earth in 2023.