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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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.
