Witness the moment when NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft released the sample return capsule from a distance of 63,000 miles away from Earth. This event unfolded on September 24, 2023, at the Department of Defense’s Utah Test and Training Range near Salt Lake City, following years of diligent effort by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx team.
The image of the sample return capsule, still attached to the spacecraft’s instrument deck, was captured on September 23 at 10:37:55 a.m. EDT (14:37:55 UTC) by the StowCam camera, which is part of TAGCAMS (the Touch-and-Go Camera System). TAGCAMS plays a critical role in the spacecraft’s guidance, navigation, and control system. It’s worth noting that TAGCAMS was developed by Malin Space Science Systems and integrated into the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft by Lockheed Martin.
The sequence of images depicting the sample return capsule’s descent toward Earth was recorded by TAGCAMS’s NavCam 1 on September 24, 2023, just after the capsule’s release. In these images, the Sun is visible at the top of the frame, and a slender “crescent Earth” can be seen at the left edge. OSIRIS-REx’s NavCams are instrumental in optically navigating the spacecraft and were used to track star-fields and landmarks on the asteroid Bennu to determine the spacecraft’s position during the mission. The processing of these images has minimized scattered sunlight, enhancing the capsule’s and release debris cloud’s details while preventing saturation of the Earth crescent.
Leading up to the landing, OSIRIS-REx conducted its final observations of the sample return capsule. Doppler data confirmed that the spacecraft executed the planned release of the capsule from a distance of 63,000 miles above Earth’s surface, roughly one-third of the distance between Earth and the Moon.
The OSIRIS-REx sample return capsule, marked by charring from its journey through Earth’s atmosphere, touched down on September 24 in Utah’s Great Salt Lake Desert. Following this event, the capsule was promptly transported to a temporary clean room at the Department of Defense’s Utah Test and Training Range. On September 26, it embarked on a journey to Houston aboard a U.S. Air Force C-17 aircraft and was subsequently placed in a specialized clean room at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
Meanwhile, the OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft, now on a new mission with a different name, is en route to asteroid Apophis, with an expected rendezvous in 2029. This marks another exciting chapter in NASA’s ongoing exploration of the cosmos.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about OSIRIS-REx sample return capsule release
What is OSIRIS-REx?
OSIRIS-REx stands for Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security – Regolith Explorer. It is a NASA spacecraft designed for the purpose of studying and collecting samples from the asteroid Bennu.
When did OSIRIS-REx release the sample return capsule?
The release of the sample return capsule took place on September 24, 2023.
What is TAGCAMS?
TAGCAMS, or the Touch-and-Go Camera System, is a set of cameras on the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. It includes the StowCam camera and NavCams, which are crucial for optical navigation and capturing images during the mission.
Where did the sample return capsule land?
The sample return capsule landed in a targeted area of the Department of Defense’s Utah Test and Training Range near Salt Lake City.
How far was the sample return capsule from Earth during release?
The sample return capsule was released from a distance of 63,000 miles from Earth’s surface, approximately one-third of the distance between Earth and the Moon.
What happened after the capsule landed in Utah?
Following its landing, the sample return capsule was transported to a temporary clean room at the Department of Defense’s Utah Test and Training Range and later flown to Houston. It was then placed in a customized clean room at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
What is the next mission for OSIRIS-REx?
The OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft, now with a new mission and name, is currently on a course toward asteroid Apophis, with plans to reach it in 2029.
More about OSIRIS-REx sample return capsule release
- NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Mission Overview
- NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Mission Updates
- TAGCAMS – Touch-and-Go Camera System
- OSIRIS-REx Returns with Asteroid Bennu Samples
- OSIRIS-APEX Mission
