Subject line: exploration and study of the asteroids

Responsibility of the mission: NASA

Date of launch: September 9th, 2016

End of mission: 2023

 

Description

OSIRIS-Rex (Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security Regolith Explorer) is a space mission developed by the NASA, aimed at exploring the asteroids in the framework of the New Frontiers Programme.

Launched on September 9th, 2016, from the Launch Complex 41 in Cape Canaveral, OSIRIS-Rex is the first mission aimed at collecting a sample of rock from an asteroid and its studies will be useful to define the future missions, in order to predict and avoid an impact with an asteroid.

 

Scientific goals

OSIRIS will spend a period of time between six months and one year around the asteroid Bennu. Afterwards, it will take a few samples: each of them weighs about 60 grams, and will be directly analysed when the probe will return to Earth, in 2023. Among the goals of the mission, Osiris will also map the global, chemical and mineralogical properties of a primordial carbonaceous asteroid, to characterise its geological history.

The study and exploration of the asteroids will allow to obtain information on the formation of the solar system.

‣ News

THURSDAY 23 MARCH 2023

SPEI SATELLES: A SPACE MISSION TO BRING A MESSAGE OF HOPE TO ALL HUMANITY ‣

The space mission, its genesis, its details and its prospects, will be communicated at 10.30 on 27 March, the third anniversary of the Statio Orbis and the tenth of the pontificate of Pope Francis - Sala Marconi, Piazza Pia 3 Rome MORE...

WEDNESDAY 15 MARCH 2023

ITALIAN PRESIDENT, SERGIO MATTARELLA, VISITS THE “LUIGI BROGLIO” SPACE CENTER IN MALINDI ‣

President Mattarella's first Official Visit to Kenya. Watch the video on AsiTV MORE...

TUESDAY 14 MARCH 2023

The 13th Farinella Prize ‣

The prize is assigned during the EPSC annual meetings MORE...

FRIDAY 03 MARCH 2023

PRISMA in support of the ESA EO Africa initiative ‣

The ASI hyperspectral satellite acquires in Kenya for the HyRELIEF project funded by ESA MORE...

WEDNESDAY 01 MARCH 2023

Agreement between the Italian Ministry of Culture and the Italian Space Agency for heritage study and protection ‣

“Eyes” in space to protect  our national cultural heritage. Cultural heritage data collection kicks off through the COSMO-SkyMed system developed by ASI in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense MORE...