# OSIRIS-REx

> NASA sample return mission, launched in 2016

**Wikidata**: [Q604428](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q604428)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSIRIS-REx)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/osiris-rex

## Summary
OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer) is a NASA space probe and sample-return mission launched on September 8, 2016. As the third mission in NASA's New Frontiers program, it was designed to explore further into outer space, specifically targeting the asteroid 101955 Bennu. The spacecraft was manufactured by Lockheed Martin Space and is operated by the University of Arizona.

## Key Facts
*   **Mission Type:** Unmanned robotic space probe and sample-return mission.
*   **Launch Date:** September 8, 2016 (23:05 UTC) from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 41.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** Atlas V 411 (AV-067), provided by United Launch Alliance.
*   **Operator:** University of Arizona.
*   **Manufacturer:** Lockheed Martin Space.
*   **Program:** New Frontiers program (Mission 3); preceded by Juno and succeeded by Titan Dragonfly.
*   **Mass:** 2,110 kg (launch weight); 880 kg (dry weight).
*   **Dimensions:** 2.43 meters (length) x 2.43 meters (width) x 3.15 meters (height).
*   **Target:** Asteroid 101955 Bennu (orbital activity began December 31, 2018).
*   **Current Status:** Mission end time projected for 2029 (also known by alias OSIRIS-APEX).

## FAQs
### Q: What does OSIRIS-REx stand for?
A: The acronym stands for Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer. It is also known as New Frontiers 3.

### Q: Who built and operates the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft?
A: The spacecraft was manufactured by Lockheed Martin Space and is operated by the University of Arizona, with funding from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

### Q: When and where did OSIRIS-REx launch?
A: The mission launched on September 8, 2016, at 23:05 from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 41 in the United States.

### Q: What is the destination of OSIRIS-REx?
A: The space probe targets the asteroid 101955 Bennu. It began orbital activity around the asteroid on December 31, 2018.

## Why It Matters
OSIRIS-REx represents a critical milestone in planetary science as a dedicated sample-return mission, aiming to return pristine materials from an asteroid to Earth. As part of the New Frontiers program, it fills the gap between the Juno mission to Jupiter and the future Titan Dragonfly mission. The project involves a distinct partnership where NASA funds the mission, but the University of Arizona leads the science team, while Lockheed Martin provides the spacecraft and flight operations. This collaboration enables deep space exploration—specifically studying the composition and regolith of near-Earth asteroids—contributing valuable data to our understanding of the solar system's origins and security.

## Notable For
*   **New Frontiers Program:** It is the third mission in this specific NASA strategic mission class, following Juno.
*   **Sample Return Capsule:** The spacecraft includes a specialized capsule designed to return samples to Earth.
*   **Atlas V 411 Configuration:** It utilized the specific "411" variant of the Atlas V launch vehicle, featuring a single solid rocket booster.
*   **Bennu Exploration:** It successfully entered orbit around the asteroid 101955 Bennu on December 31, 2018.
*   **Earth Flyby:** The spacecraft performed a planetary flyby of Earth on September 22, 2017, to assist its trajectory.

## Body
### Mission Overview
OSIRIS-REx is an unmanned robotic spacecraft classified as a space probe and sample-return mission. Funded by NASA and launched on September 8, 2016, the mission is part of the broader New Frontiers program. It serves as the program's third mission (New Frontiers 3), succeeding the Juno spacecraft and preceding Titan Dragonfly.

### Hardware and Specifications
The spacecraft was manufactured by Lockheed Martin Space and features a distinct physical profile:
*   **Mass:** The launch weight was 2,110 kilograms, with a dry weight of 880 kilograms.
*   **Dimensions:** The probe measures approximately 2.43 meters in length and width, and 3.15 meters in height.
*   **Components:** A key component of the spacecraft is the OSIRIS-REx Sample Return Capsule.

### Launch and Trajectory
The mission launched from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 41 aboard an Atlas V 411 rocket (vehicle code AV-067), supplied by the launch contractor United Launch Alliance. Following its launch in 2016, the probe executed a significant planetary flyby of Earth on September 22, 2017.

### Destination and Timeline
The primary target for OSIRIS-REx is the asteroid 101955 Bennu. The spacecraft began orbital activity at the asteroid on December 31, 2018. The mission timeline includes a projected end time in 2029. The mission is also referred to by the alias OSIRIS-APEX in later contexts regarding its extended operations.

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/osiris-rex.htm)
2. [Source](https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/osiris-rex.html)
3. Jonathan's Space Report
4. [Source](https://nyti.ms/2jPl7rT)
5. [Source](https://blogs.nasa.gov/osiris-rex/2023/09/24/osiris-rex-spacecraft-departs-for-new-mission/)
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. BBC Things
8. [Source](https://naif.jpl.nasa.gov/pub/naif/toolkit_docs/C/req/naif_ids.html)
9. Quora
10. YouTube API