NASA OSIRIS-REx—Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer Spacecraft

OSIRIS-REx, short for Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer, is a NASA mission with a profound mission: to unlock the secrets of the cosmos by studying the near-Earth asteroid 101955 Bennu. Its primary objective is to procure a substantial sample, exceeding 60 grams, from Bennu and safely bring it back to Earth for thorough analysis.

Launched in September 2016, OSIRIS-REx embarked on a remarkable journey through space. After a year, it swung by Earth before rendezvousing with Bennu in December 2018. On October 20, 2020, a historic moment was marked as OSIRIS-REx delicately touched down on Bennu, successfully collecting a precious sample.

The significance of this mission is immense. The material from Bennu holds the key to unraveling the mysteries of our Solar System's formation, the early stages of planet birth, and the origins of organic compounds vital for life on Earth.