OSIRIS-REx
About
Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer
OSIRIS-REx launched from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Sept. 8, 2016. It arrived at Bennu on Dec. 3, 2018, and began orbiting the asteroid Bennu for the first time on Dec. 31, 2018. On October 20, 2020, OSIRIS-REx made history for NASA when it tagged the surface of asteroid Bennu for 4.7 seconds, triggering a flush of nitrogen gas and collecting the largest sample of extraterrestrial material since the Apollo moon landings. In preparation for the sample collection, the spacecraft had spent two years photographing and mapping the asteroid in tremendous detail. The spacecraft successfully dropped its sample return capsule to return to Earth on Sept. 24, 2023.
The OSIRIS-REx mission seeks answers to questions that are central to the human experience: Where did we come from? What is our destiny? OSIRIS-REx is going to Bennu, a carbon-rich asteroid that records the earliest history of our Solar System, and bringing a piece of it back to Earth. Bennu may contain the molecular precursors to the origin of life and the Earth’s oceans. Bennu is also one of the most potentially hazardous asteroids. It has a relatively high probability of impacting the Earth late in the 22nd century. OSIRIS-REx will determine Bennu’s physical and chemical properties. This will be critical for future scientists to know when developing an impact mitigation mission. Finally, asteroids like Bennu contain natural resources such as water, organics, and precious metals. Future space exploration and economic development will rely on asteroids for these precious materials. Asteroids may one day fuel the exploration of the Solar System by robotic and manned spacecraft.
Faculty
OSIRIS-REx Faculty
Erik Asphaug
Professor
Lunar Studies, Planetary Analogs, Planetary Geophysics, Planetary Surfaces, Small Bodies, Theoretical Astrophysics, Titan & Outer Solar SystemJessica Barnes
Assistant Professor
Cosmochemistry, Lunar Studies, Planetary AnalogsWilliam Boynton
Professor Emeritus
Astrobiology, Cosmochemistry, Lunar Studies, Small BodiesDani Mendoza DellaGiustina
Assistant Professor, Deputy Principal Investigator, OSIRIS-REx, Principal Investigator, OSIRIS-APEX
Earth, Photogrammetry, Planetary Analogs, Planetary Geophysics, Planetary Surfaces, Small BodiesPierre Haenecour
Assistant Professor
Astrobiology, Cosmochemistry, Planetary Astronomy, Small BodiesEllen Howell
Research Professor
Small BodiesDante Lauretta
Director, Arizona Astrobiology Center, Principal Investigator, OSIRIS-REx, Regents Professor
Astrobiology, Cosmochemistry, Small BodiesRenu Malhotra
Louise Foucar Marshall Science Research Professor, Regents Professor
Astrobiology, Exoplanets, Orbital Dynamics, Planetary Formation and Evolution, Small Bodies, Theoretical AstrophysicsMichael Nolan
Deputy Principal Investigator, OSIRIS-APEX, Research Professor
Small BodiesPeter Smith
Professor Emeritus
AstrobiologyTimothy Swindle
Professor Emeritus
Cosmochemistry, Lunar Studies, Small Bodies, Theoretical AstrophysicsTom Zega
Professor
Astrobiology, Cosmochemistry, Small BodiesOther Researchers
OSIRIS-REx Researchers
Laura Chaves
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Cosmochemistry, Small BodiesMatthew Chojnacki
DCC Associate Research (McEwen)
Photogrammetry, Planetary Surfaces, Small BodiesRuby Fulford
PTYS Graduate Student
Astrobiology, Planetary Geophysics, Planetary Surfaces, Small Bodies, Titan & Outer Solar SystemDathon Golish
Mission Instrument and Observation Scientist
PhotogrammetryKana Ishimaru
PTYS Graduate Student
Cosmochemistry, Small BodiesRobert Melikyan
PTYS Graduate Student
Orbital Dynamics, Small BodiesBeau Prince
PTYS Graduate Student
CosmochemistryBashar Rizk
Research Scientist/Senior Staff Scientist, OSIRIS-REx/OCAMS
Asteroid Surveys, Planetary AtmospheresAndrew Ryan
Researcher/Scientist, OSIRIS-REx
Planetary SurfacesStephen Schwartz
DCC Associate Staff Scientist (Asphaug)
Orbital Dynamics, Planetary Astronomy, Planetary Surfaces, Small Bodies, Space Situational AwarenessSarah Sutton
Photogrammetry Program Lead, HiRISE, Researcher/Scientist
Earth, Lunar Studies, Photogrammetry, Planetary Analogs, Planetary Surfaces, Small BodiesSupport Staff
OSIRIS-REx Support Staff
Kris Becker
Senior Data Analyst, OSIRIS-REx
PhotogrammetryCarina Bennett
Project Manager and Software Engineer, SAMIS
Denise Blum
Business Manager, OSIRIS-REx
Christian d'Aubigny
DCC Deputy Instrument Scientist, OCAMS (Byrne)
Tony Ferro
System Administrator, OSIRIS-REx/SPOC
Michael Fitzgibbon
Software Engineer, Lead Calibration & Validation, OSIRIS-REx
Damian Hammond
Software Engineer, OSIRIS-REx Telemetry Processing
Karl Harshman
Manager, OSIRIS-REx/SPOC
Dolores Hill
Research Specialist, Senior
Cosmochemistry, Small BodiesJoshua Kantarges
SAMIS Software Engineer, OSIRIS-REx
Anjani Polit
Deputy Principal Investigator, OSIRIS-APEX
Heather Roper
Media Specialist, Senior
Mathilde Westermann
Lead GIS Development Engineer, OSIRIS-REx
Catherine Wolner
Editor, OSIRIS-REx