Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer

OSIRIS-REx

    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.

    OSIRIS-REx Faculty

    Erik Asphaug

    Professor

    Lunar Studies, Planetary Analogs, Planetary Geophysics, Planetary Surfaces, Small Bodies, Theoretical Astrophysics, Titan & Outer Solar System

    Jessica Barnes

    Assistant Professor

    Cosmochemistry, Lunar Studies, Planetary Analogs

    William Boynton

    Professor Emeritus

    Astrobiology, Cosmochemistry, Lunar Studies, Small Bodies

    Dani Mendoza DellaGiustina

    Assistant Professor, Deputy Principal Investigator, OSIRIS-REx, Principal Investigator, OSIRIS-APEX

    Earth, Photogrammetry, Planetary Analogs, Planetary Geophysics, Planetary Surfaces, Small Bodies

    Pierre Haenecour

    Assistant Professor

    Astrobiology, Cosmochemistry, Planetary Astronomy, Small Bodies

    Ellen Howell

    Research Professor

    Small Bodies

    Dante Lauretta

    Director, Arizona Astrobiology Center, Principal Investigator, OSIRIS-REx, Regents Professor

    Astrobiology, Cosmochemistry, Small Bodies

    Renu Malhotra

    Louise Foucar Marshall Science Research Professor, Regents Professor

    Astrobiology, Exoplanets, Orbital Dynamics, Planetary Formation and Evolution, Small Bodies, Theoretical Astrophysics

    Michael Nolan

    Deputy Principal Investigator, OSIRIS-APEX, Research Professor

    Small Bodies

    Peter Smith

    Professor Emeritus

    Astrobiology

    Timothy Swindle

    Professor Emeritus

    Cosmochemistry, Lunar Studies, Small Bodies, Theoretical Astrophysics

    Tom Zega

    Professor

    Astrobiology, Cosmochemistry, Small Bodies

    OSIRIS-REx Researchers

    Laura Chaves

    Postdoctoral Research Associate

    Cosmochemistry, Small Bodies

    Matthew Chojnacki

    DCC Associate Research (McEwen)

    Photogrammetry, Planetary Surfaces, Small Bodies

    Ruby Fulford

    PTYS Graduate Student

    Astrobiology, Planetary Geophysics, Planetary Surfaces, Small Bodies, Titan & Outer Solar System

    Dathon Golish

    Mission Instrument and Observation Scientist

    Photogrammetry

    Kana Ishimaru

    PTYS Graduate Student

    Cosmochemistry, Small Bodies

    Robert Melikyan

    PTYS Graduate Student

    Orbital Dynamics, Small Bodies

    Beau Prince

    PTYS Graduate Student

    Cosmochemistry

    Bashar Rizk

    Research Scientist/Senior Staff Scientist, OSIRIS-REx/OCAMS

    Asteroid Surveys, Planetary Atmospheres

    Andrew Ryan

    Researcher/Scientist, OSIRIS-REx

    Planetary Surfaces

    Stephen Schwartz

    DCC Associate Staff Scientist (Asphaug)

    Orbital Dynamics, Planetary Astronomy, Planetary Surfaces, Small Bodies, Space Situational Awareness

    Sarah Sutton

    Photogrammetry Program Lead, HiRISE, Researcher/Scientist

    Earth, Lunar Studies, Photogrammetry, Planetary Analogs, Planetary Surfaces, Small Bodies

    OSIRIS-REx Support Staff

    Kris Becker

    Senior Data Analyst, OSIRIS-REx

    Photogrammetry

    Carina 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 Bodies

    Joshua 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

    OSIRIS-REx News

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