OSIRIS-REx A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft lifts off from launch complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Osiris-Rex will travel to asteroid Bennu, collect ground samples, then haul them back to Earth. (Joel Kowsky/NASA via AP) (NASA/Joel Kowsky/AP)
OSIRIS-REx FILE - This file illustration provided by NASA depicts the Osiris-Rex spacecraft at the asteroid Bennu. The Osiris-Rex spacecraft entered orbit Monday, Dec. 31, 2018, around the asteroid Bennu, 70 million miles (110 million kilometers) from Earth. It’s the smallest celestial body ever to be orbited by a spacecraft. Bennu is just 1,600 feet (500 meters) across. (Conceptual Image Lab/Goddard Space Flight Center/NASA via AP, File) (AP)
OSIRIS-REx Esta combinación de fotos del 2 de diciembre del 2018 proveída por la NASA muestra un peñasco en la superficie del asteroide Bennu, capturada por la sonda Osiris-Rex (NASA/Goddard/Universitdad de Arizona vía AP) (AP)
OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Bennu, taken with Teledyne CCD image sensors, is shown in the photo. Image credits: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona
OSIRIS-REx This undated image made available by NASA shows the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft's primary sample collection site, named "Nightingale," on the asteroid Bennu. An outline of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is placed at center to illustrate the scale of the site. After almost two years circling the ancient asteroid, OSIRIS-REx will attempt to descend to the treacherous, boulder-packed surface and snatch a handful of rubble on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020. (NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona via AP) (AP)
OSIRIS-REx This illustration provided by NASA depicts the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft and the Earth. On Friday, Sept. 22, 2017, the probe will use Earth's gravity to put it on a path toward the asteroid Bennu. (Conceptual Image Lab/Goddard Space Flight Center/NASA via AP) (AP)
OSIRIS-REx The sample site, named “Nightingale”, is pictured in the photo. The image of the Nightingale site is overlaid with a graphic of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft to illustrate the targeted touchdown site which is ringed by dangerous obstacles. The imagery was taken with Teledyne CCD image sensors. Image credits: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona
OSIRIS-REx Three-dimensional view of asteroid Bennu created from 20 million lidar measurements. The lidar system obtained these measurements by firing laser pulses at Bennu and measuring the amount of time it takes for the light to bounce off the asteroid’s surface and return to the instrument. The time delay is translated into altitude data. The colors represent the distance from the center of Bennu: dark blue areas lie approximately 60 meters below the peaks indicated in red. Image credits: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona
OSIRIS-REx This image captured on Dec. 19, 2018, by a camera on the Osiris-Rex spacecraft shows the asteroid Bennu, top right, about 27 miles (43 kilometers) from the spacecraft, and the Earth and moon, bottom left, more than 70 million miles (110 million kilometers) away. Bennu, just 1,600 feet (500 meters) across, is the smallest celestial body ever to be orbited by a spacecraft. (NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona/Lockheed Martin Space via AP) (AP)
OSIRIS-REx FILE - This artist's rendering made available by NASA in July 2016 shows the mapping of the near-Earth asteroid Bennu by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. Scientists had thought the asteroid Bennu had wide, open areas to scoop up dirt and gravel. But on Tuesday, March 19, 2019, NASA announced the probe hasn’t found any big spots for sampling. (NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona via AP) (AP)
OSIRIS-REx This Aug. 11, 2020 photo shows the sampling arm of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft during a rehearsal for an approach to the "Nightingale" sample site on the surface of the asteroid Bennu. After almost two years circling the ancient asteroid, OSIRIS-REx will attempt to descend to the treacherous, boulder-packed surface and snatch a handful of rubble on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020. (NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona via AP) (AP)
