Doppler data indicates that NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft released its sample capsule toward Earth at 6:42 a.m. EDT (4:42 a.m. MDT), as planned, from 63,000 miles of Earth's surface – about one-third the distance from Earth to the Moon. After traveling for about four hours through space, the capsule will enter the atmosphere off the coast …
Following a team briefing minutes ago, operators gave the "go" for the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft to release its sample capsule. The poll of the lead engineers and military personnel was unanimous. Each team lead responded based on a list of criteria. Are projections showing that the capsule will land in its target area? Yes. Do the …
A weather briefing today predicted a dry Sept. 24 with low winds. These are optimal conditions for NASA's OSIRIS-REx sample recovery team: A wet and windy day would have made a speedy capsule recovery from the desert floor of the Department of Defense's Utah Test and Training Range more difficult. The OSIRIS-REx team will continue …
On Sept. 17, NASA's OSIRIS-REx engineers slightly shifted the spacecraft's trajectory to refine the landing location of its sample capsule, which the spacecraft will deliver to Earth on Sept. 24. The spacecraft briefly fired its thrusters Sunday to change its velocity by 7 inches per minute (3 millimeters per second) relative to Earth. This final correction …
Calling all music buffs! This one's for you. We're gearing up for the Sept. 24 landing of NASA's first asteroid sample and we want you to provide the soundtrack. Your song requests could be featured during a week of live episodes on Third Rock Radio and on the official Return of the Rock playlists. Third …
On Sept. 10, NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft briefly fired its ACS (attitude control system) thrusters to point itself toward Earth, putting it on course to release its sample capsule, carrying rocks and dust from asteroid Bennu, from 63,000 miles (or 102,000 kilometers) above Earth's surface on Sunday, Sept. 24. Yesterday's trajectory-correction maneuver changed the spacecraft's velocity …
Early morning on Sunday, Sept. 24, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft's sample capsule will come face-to-face with Earth's atmosphere for the first time since the mission's 2016 launch. On board are an estimated 8.8 ounces, or 250 grams, of rocky material collected from the surface of Bennu in 2020 – NASA's first asteroid sample and the largest …
Though there are only 24 days left until the mission's seven-year journey comes to its climactic end, the mood of NASA's OSIRIS-REx team is calm. After months of rehearsals, it was clear during the final dress rehearsal this week in Utah that the team has mastered the intricate steps required to retrieve the sample of …
By Sandra Freund, OSIRIS-REx Program Manager, Lockheed Martin On Sept. 24, samples of asteroid Bennu will arrive on Earth, thanks to NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft and its mission to obtain fragments of this rocky body. The flight portion of the mission, many years in the making, will end when its sample return capsule lands in the …
On July 26, NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft fired its engines for about 63 seconds to slightly thrust itself onto a course closer to Earth. Preliminary tracking data indicates OSIRIS-REx changed its velocity, which includes speed and direction, by 1.3 miles, or 2 kilometers, per hour. It's a tiny but critical shift; without course adjustments like this …
