#osiris apex

[axopies]

osiris

[merelygifted]

After NASA's epic OSIRIS-REx capsule landing success, spacecraft heads to asteroid Apophis on new mission | Space

The NASA probe that delivered precious samples of the space rock Bennu to Earth is now on an extended voyage to study an infamous near Earth asteroid.

OSIRIS-REx completed NASA's first asteroid sample return mission on Sunday (Sept. 24), when its reentry capsule landed in the western Utah desert. But now the main spacecraft has embarked on a side quest: to scope out and get up close with Apophis, an asteroid previously thought to potentially pose a threat to Earth.

The spacecraft used its return to Earth to fling itself on a course toward Apophis. It fired its engines about 20 minutes after releasing the reentry capsule containing pristine material from the early solar system, effecting a trajectory change and setting it on another long, looping voyage.  ...

[celreniaworld]

Ok the fact they're sending a spacecraft named Osiris to an asteroid named Apophis is part of why I love astronomy

[skylobster]

A NASA Spacecraft Comes Home With an Asteroid Gift for Earth

The seven-year Osiris-Rex mission ended on Sunday with the return of regolith from the asteroid Bennu, which might hold clues about the orig

[teledyn]

Twenty minutes after the drop-off, the spacecraft will fire its thrusters to divert past Earth toward asteroid Apophis…

Wait. Apophis?

As in 99942-Apophis, Stargate SG1 villain, enemy of Ra, Torino scale highscore champion, the Uncreator evil serpent that dwells in the eternal darkness of the Duat headed-inbound-in-2036 Apophis?!