OSIRIS-REx Space Probe


-NASA mission that involves collecting and returning samples from asteroids
-Dr Dante Lauretta of the University of Arizona is the principal investigator for OSIRIS-REx
-The acronym stands for "Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security – Regolith Explorer"
-The spacecraft is 20.25 feet long, 8 feet wide by 8 feet wide, and 10.33 feet tall
-OSIRIS-REx's mission is to study asteroids and return samples to Earth
-September 8, 2016: Spacecraft launched
-October 2016: Collected about 8.8 ounces (250 grams) of rocks and dust from the surface of the near-Earth asteroid 101955 Bennu
-September 24, 2023: Returned the sample to Earth and is now on a new mission, OSIRIS-APEX, to explore the asteroid Apophis
-September 2023: A US postage stamp was issued to commemorate the successful mission