Planets and Moons ID: 14406

To Bennu and Back: Journey’s End

Released on August 30, 2023

OSIRIS-REx is NASA’s first asteroid sample return mission. It launched in September 2016 on a journey to explore a near-Earth asteroid called Bennu. In October 2020, the spacecraft ventured to the asteroid’s surface and collected about 250 grams of material for delivery to Earth. Now, two years and four months after leaving Bennu, OSIRIS-REx is closing in on the place where its journey began. The mission’s thrilling finale will take place on September 24, 2023, as a capsule containing the Bennu samples touches down in Utah’s West Desert. Follow the journey to Bennu and back on NASA.gov.

OSIRIS-REx diverts away from Earth after releasing its sample return capsule.
Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab

The sample return capsule experiences maximum heating in Earth’s atmosphere.
Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab

With its main parachute deployed, the capsule slowly descends to the Utah desert.
Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab

OSIRIS-APEX carries out its extended mission to near-Earth asteroid Apophis.
Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab

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Source Material

Credits

Dan Gallagher (KBR Wyle Services, LLC): Lead Producer
Walt Feimer (KBR Wyle Services, LLC): Lead Animator
Michael Lentz (KBR Wyle Services, LLC): Animator
Jonathan North (KBR Wyle Services, LLC): Animator
Jenny McElligott (Advocates in Manpower Management, Inc.): Animator
Adriana Manrique Gutierrez (KBR Wyle Services, LLC): Animator
Kim Dongjae (KBR Wyle Services, LLC): Animator
Angeles Miron (Skillbridge Intern (U.S. Navy)): Animator
Josh Masters (Freelance): Animator
Kel Elkins (USRA): Visualizer
Dante Lauretta (The University of Arizona): Lead Scientist
Jason Dworkin (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Dan Gallagher (KBR Wyle Services, LLC): Narrator
Michael Starobin (KBR Wyle Services, LLC): Support
Lonnie Shekhtman (ADNET Systems, Inc.): Support
Chris Meaney (KBR Wyle Services, LLC): Support
Ernie Wright (USRA): Support
Rani Gran (NASA/GSFC): Lead Public Affairs

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14406

Mission:
OSIRIS-REX

This item is part of this series:
Narrated Movies

Keywords:
SVS >> Asteroid
SVS >> Earth
SVS >> HDTV
SVS >> Landing Site
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Biosphere >> Terrestrial Ecosystems >> Deserts
GCMD >> Location >> Texas
GCMD >> Location >> Utah
SVS >> OSIRIS-REx
NASA Science >> Planets and Moons
SVS >> Bennu
SVS >> Missions
SVS >> Sample Return
SVS >> Design
SVS >> Capsule
SVS >> Produced Video
SVS >> Apophis
SVS >> OSIRIS-APEX
SVS >> Parachute
SVS >> Journey

GCMD keywords can be found on the Internet with the following citation: Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Morahan, A. Aleman, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, M. Meaux, S. Grebas, C.Solomon, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, R. Bilodeau, 2013. NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 8.0.0.0.0