Innovation

Photos: NASA’s OSIRIS-REx, asteroid Bennu, and other sights from the spacecraft’s journey through our solar system

By R. Dallon Adams

Image
1
of 14

osiris-rex
osiris-rex
Photos: NASA’s OSIRIS-REx, asteroid Bennu, and other sights from the spacecraft’s journey through our solar system

OSIRIS-REx descends on Bennu

Image: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

OSIRIS-REx descends on Bennu

In the days ahead, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will descend on asteroid Bennu to collect a sample of its surface in what the space agency is calling a Touch-And-Go (TAG). If successful, the craft could return the largest sample recovery since the Apollo era, according to NASA. The collected material will return to Earth in Sept. of 2023 and could provide invaluable insights about the formation of our solar system, the origins of life, and more. Here are photos of OSIRIS-REx, asteroid Bennu, and other images the spacecraft has snapped along its multi-billion mile journey.

SEE: OSIRIS-REx on Bennu: The mission’s project scientist details “greedy” asteroid sampling, challenges, and more (TechRepublic)

Image: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
osiris rex.jpg
osiris rex.jpg
Photos: NASA’s OSIRIS-REx, asteroid Bennu, and other sights from the spacecraft’s journey through our solar system

A heart-shaped reflection

Image: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona/Lockheed Martin

A heart-shaped reflection

In this photo, sunlight glints off the top of OSIRIS-REx’s Sample Return Capsule (SRC) with Bennu in the background.

SEE: OSIRIS-REx on Bennu: The mission’s project scientist details “greedy” asteroid sampling, challenges, and more (TechRepublic)

Image: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona/Lockheed Martin
asteroid-bennu.jpg
asteroid-bennu.jpg
Photos: NASA’s OSIRIS-REx, asteroid Bennu, and other sights from the spacecraft’s journey through our solar system

Bennu ejecting particles

Image: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona/Lockheed Martin

Bennu ejecting particles

Using a combination of images snapped by OSIRIS-REx’s onboard NavCam 1, this photo shows particles being ejected from Bennu’s surface.

SEE: OSIRIS-REx on Bennu: The mission’s project scientist details “greedy” asteroid sampling, challenges, and more (TechRepublic)

Image: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona/Lockheed Martin
bennu.jpg
bennu.jpg
Photos: NASA’s OSIRIS-REx, asteroid Bennu, and other sights from the spacecraft’s journey through our solar system

Map of Bennu

Image: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

Map of Bennu

This mosaic global map of Bennu was created using more than 2,100 images collected from March 7 to April 19, 2019. All of these images were snapped by OSIRIS-REx’s onboard PolyCam.

SEE: OSIRIS-REx on Bennu: The mission’s project scientist details “greedy” asteroid sampling, challenges, and more (TechRepublic)

Image: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona
bennu.jpg
bennu.jpg
Photos: NASA’s OSIRIS-REx, asteroid Bennu, and other sights from the spacecraft’s journey through our solar system

Bennu's boulders

Image: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

Bennu's boulders

These two images show a 170-foot boulder situated along the asteroid’s southern hemisphere.

SEE: OSIRIS-REx on Bennu: The mission’s project scientist details “greedy” asteroid sampling, challenges, and more (TechRepublic)

Image: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona
bennu.jpg
bennu.jpg
Photos: NASA’s OSIRIS-REx, asteroid Bennu, and other sights from the spacecraft’s journey through our solar system

Nightingale sample site

Image: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

Nightingale sample site

This photo shows the Nightingale sample site where the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will attempt its TAG sample collection. NASA included an OSIRIS-REx graphic for scale.

SEE: “Touch-And-Go”: OSIRIS-REx is set to land on an asteroid and collect material (TechRepublic)

Image: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona
bennu.jpg
bennu.jpg
Photos: NASA’s OSIRIS-REx, asteroid Bennu, and other sights from the spacecraft’s journey through our solar system

Bennu's rocky surface

Image: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

Bennu's rocky surface

This set of images shows cliffs and boulders across Bennu in vivid detail.

SEE: “Touch-And-Go”: OSIRIS-REx is set to land on an asteroid and collect material (TechRepublic)

Image: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona
osiris-rex
osiris-rex
Photos: NASA’s OSIRIS-REx, asteroid Bennu, and other sights from the spacecraft’s journey through our solar system

OSIRIS-REx approaches Bennu

Image: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

OSIRIS-REx approaches Bennu

An artist’s rendering depicting OSIRIS-REx above Bennu.

SEE: “Touch-And-Go”: OSIRIS-REx is set to land on an asteroid and collect material (TechRepublic)

Image: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona
bennu.jpg
bennu.jpg
Photos: NASA’s OSIRIS-REx, asteroid Bennu, and other sights from the spacecraft’s journey through our solar system

A Jovian flyby

Image: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

A Jovian flyby

OSIRIS-REx’s PolyCam snapped this photo of Jupiter and several of its moons. At the time, the spacecraft was more than 400 miles from the largest planet in our solar system.

SEE: “Touch-And-Go”: OSIRIS-REx is set to land on an asteroid and collect material (TechRepublic)

Image: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona
osiris-rex.jpg
osiris-rex.jpg
Photos: NASA’s OSIRIS-REx, asteroid Bennu, and other sights from the spacecraft’s journey through our solar system

OSIRIS-REx leaves the launchpad

Image: NASA

OSIRIS-REx leaves the launchpad

On Sept. 8, 2016, OSIRIS-REx launched from Cape Canaveral aboard an Atlas V rocket.

SEE: “Touch-And-Go”: OSIRIS-REx is set to land on an asteroid and collect material (TechRepublic)

Image: NASA
osiris-rex.jpg
osiris-rex.jpg
Photos: NASA’s OSIRIS-REx, asteroid Bennu, and other sights from the spacecraft’s journey through our solar system

The NASA spacecraft's sampling arm

Image: Lockheed Martin Corporation

The NASA spacecraft's sampling arm

OSIRIS-REx’s Touch-and-Go Sample Arm Mechanism (TAGSAM) undergoes testing at a Lockheed Martin facility.

SEE: “Touch-And-Go”: OSIRIS-REx is set to land on an asteroid and collect material (TechRepublic)

Image: Lockheed Martin Corporation
osiris-rex.jpg
osiris-rex.jpg
Photos: NASA’s OSIRIS-REx, asteroid Bennu, and other sights from the spacecraft’s journey through our solar system

OSIRIS-REx draws a crowd

Image: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis

OSIRIS-REx draws a crowd

OSIRIS-REx shown in NASA’s Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility in May of 2016.

SEE: “Touch-And-Go”: OSIRIS-REx is set to land on an asteroid and collect material (TechRepublic)

Image: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis
osiris-rex.jpg
osiris-rex.jpg
Photos: NASA’s OSIRIS-REx, asteroid Bennu, and other sights from the spacecraft’s journey through our solar system

OSIRIS-REx ablur

Image: NASA/KimShiflett

OSIRIS-REx ablur

In this photo, OSIRIS-REx is spun for what NASA described as a “weight and center of gravity test” at the space agency’s Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility.

SEE: “Touch-And-Go”: OSIRIS-REx is set to land on an asteroid and collect material (TechRepublic)

Image: NASA/KimShiflett
osiris-rex
osiris-rex
Photos: NASA’s OSIRIS-REx, asteroid Bennu, and other sights from the spacecraft’s journey through our solar system

OSIRIS-REx in the lab

Image: NASA/FrankMichaux

OSIRIS-REx in the lab

A team positions OSIRIS-REx inside of NASA’s Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility.

SEE: “Touch-And-Go”: OSIRIS-REx is set to land on an asteroid and collect material (TechRepublic)

Image: NASA/FrankMichaux
Image of R. Dallon Adams
By R. Dallon Adams
R. Dallon Adams is a journalist originally from Louisville, Kentucky. His previous work includes a wide spectrum of beats and formats ranging from tech-savvy urban planning initiatives to hands-on gadget reviews.