OSIRIS-REx
Spacecraft: |
Osiris-Rex stands for Origins,
Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer |
Chronologies: |
2016 payload # ; 2016-A ; 7,8th spacecraft. |
Type: |
Planetary |
Families: |
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Ranks: |
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Sponsor: |
NASA |
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Launch: |
2 September 2016 at UT,
from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, by an Atlas V. |
Orbit: |
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Mission: |
The $1 billion OSIRIS-REx mission will be
send on a two-year voyage to asteroid Bennu, a near-Earth object
scientists say is made of primitive material from the ancient solar system.
The probe is due to arrive at Bennu in late 2018. After a close-up survey
of the asteroid, scientists will select a sampling site where the OSIRIS-REx
spacecraft will descend and snag a specimen of rock and dust from Bennu’s
surface. OSIRIS-REx will depart Bennu in March 2021 and cruise back to
Earth, deploying a landing capsule containing the samples to parachute
to touchdown in Utah in September 2023. |
Source: |
Jonathan
Space Report No. ; NSSDC
2014-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 2015
Stories, ; |
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