The OSIRIS-REx mission, launched in 2016, marked the third significant endeavor in the field of planetary research under NASA's New Frontiers Program. Preceding it were the New Horizons mission, initiated in 2006, and the Juno mission, initiated in 2011.

The abbreviation OSIRIS-REx stands for "Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer." The objective of the mission was to acquire a sample with a minimum weight of 2.1 ounces (59.5 grams) from the vicinity of near-Earth asteroid 101955 Bennu (formerly designated as 1999 RQ36), followed by the subsequent return of the sample to Earth.


The mission was deemed successful after the spacecraft effectively transported its sample of Bennu to Earth on September 24, 2023.

The project, created by researchers affiliated with the University of Arizona, aims to provide additional insights into the creation of the early solar system and the origins of life. Furthermore, this research will contribute to our enhanced comprehension of asteroids that have the potential to collide with Earth in subsequent periods.

Approximately 55 minutes following its launch on September 8, 2016, from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and subsequent to being propelled by the Centaur upper stage, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft successfully detached from its Atlas V rocket and proceeded to deploy its solar arrays.

On September 9, 2016, at 17:30 Coordinated Universal Time (UT), the spacecraft traversed the orbital trajectory of the Moon, reaching a distance of approximately 240,200 miles (386,500 kilometers). After a span of three days, the object had successfully achieved a stable orbital position around the Sun. On September 19, 2016, the mission team initiated the activation of all scientific instruments at their disposal.

On October 7, 2016, the spacecraft executed its inaugural trajectory correction maneuver (TCM) by using the thrusters for a duration of 12 seconds, so effecting a modification in its intended path. In addition to its primary propulsion system, the spacecraft is equipped with three other sets of thrusters, namely the attitude control system (ACS), the main engine (ME), and the low thrust reaction engine assembly (LTR) thrusters. This configuration ensures a high level of redundancy, enabling the spacecraft to perform various maneuvers effectively.

The spacecraft executed its inaugural deep-space maneuver (DSM-1) on December 28, 2016, utilizing the primary engine to establish an appropriate position for an upcoming Earth gravity-assist encounter in the latter part of 2017.

On August 25, 2017, a subsequent propulsion event was conducted, marking the initial utilization of the spacecraft's attitude control system (ACS) thrusters. This maneuver resulted in a refinement of the spacecraft's trajectory, specifically altering its velocity by approximately 19 inches (47.9 centimeters) per second.

Approximately one month later, namely on September 22, 2017, the spacecraft OSIRIS-REx executed a close approach to Earth at a distance of approximately 10,710 miles (17,237 kilometers). This maneuver was conducted in order to utilize the gravitational force of Earth to adjust the spacecraft's trajectory to align with that of its target, the asteroid Bennu. During the course of the encounter, the spacecraft captured a series of high-resolution images depicting both Earth and the Moon.

In August 2018, the spacecraft captured its initial observation of Bennu, transmitting a low-resolution photograph acquired from a distance of around 1.4 million miles (2.3 million kilometers). In the initial weeks of November 2018, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft sent high-resolution visual representations that provided intricate insights into the morphology of the asteroid, as well as certain discernible characteristics present on its surface.

Upon its arrival to Bennu on December 3, 2018, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft conducted a comprehensive mapping of the asteroid, while the mission crew diligently sought out a secure location for the gathering of samples. One of the primary obstacles encountered was the presence of a highly rugged terrain on Bennu, characterized by the presence of perilous boulders.

Following a year of analysis and evaluation, the mission team made the decision to designate a specific sample location known as "Nightingale," which is situated within a crater in the northern region and spans around 460 feet (140 meters) in width. The age of the crater is believed to be relatively recent, and the regolith, comprising of rocks and dust, appears to be recently uncovered. This implies that the site would probably facilitate the acquisition of an uncontaminated sample of the asteroid, thereby providing the scientists with valuable knowledge regarding Bennu's past.