← ALL PROBES
DISTANCE FROM SUN1.2 AU
DISTANCE FROM EARTH0.5 AU
VELOCITY28 km/s
LIGHT TIME4 min
ACTIVE
1.2
AU FROM SUN
DISTANCE
179,517,445 km
100,800
KM/H
VELOCITY
9 years, 206 days
MISSION DURATION
AND COUNTING
4
MINUTES LIGHT TIME
ONE-WAY SIGNAL DELAY
2,110
KG
LAUNCH MASS
3
TARGETS
Asteroid Bennu, Earth, Asteroid Apophis
OSIRIS-APEX is a flyby mission by NASA / GSFC targeting Asteroid Apophis. Launched September 8, 2016. Currently 1.2 AU from the Sun.
ABOUT OSIRIS-APEX
Originally OSIRIS-REx, this spacecraft successfully collected and returned a 121.6-gram sample of asteroid Bennu to Earth in September 2023. Now renamed OSIRIS-APEX, it is on its way to study asteroid Apophis, which will make a remarkably close pass by Earth on April 13, 2029 — close enough to be visible to the naked eye.
KEY DISCOVERIES
- Bennu is a rubble pile asteroid that could split apart
- Sample from Bennu contained water and carbon minerals
- Heading to study Apophis after its 2029 close Earth approach
TECHNOLOGY & FIRSTS
- Originally OSIRIS-REx: first US asteroid sample return
- Successfully returned 121.6g of asteroid Bennu material (2023)
- Renamed OSIRIS-APEX for extended mission to Apophis
SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS (5)
OCAMS (Camera suite)
OLA (Laser altimeter)
OTES (Thermal emission spectrometer)
OVIRS (Visible/IR spectrometer)
REXIS (X-ray spectrometer)
SPACECRAFT SPECIFICATIONS
Launch Mass2,110 kg (4,653 lbs)
PowerSolar panels
Launch VehicleAtlas V 411
Launch DateSeptember 8, 2016
Arrival DateApril 13, 2029
ProgramNew Frontiers
MISSION TRAJECTORY
1
Asteroid Bennu
2
Earth
3
Asteroid Apophis
LAUNCH HISTORY