The OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer) is a NASA asteroid study and sample-return mission. Launched on 8 September 2016, its mission is to study asteroid 101955 Bennu, a carbonaceous asteroid, and return a sample to Earth on 24 September 2023 for detailed analysis.
Yesterday on 13 November 2018, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft executed its fourth Asteroid Approach Maneuver (AAM-4). The probe terminated its Attitude Control System (ACS) thrusters to moderate the shuttle from around 0.31 mph (0.14 m/sec) to 0.10 mph (0.04 m/sec).
The ACS thrusters are equipped for speed changes as little as 0.02 mph (0.01 m/sec). The mission group will keep on looking at telemetry and the following information throughout the following week to check the new direction. The move focused on the probe to fly through a passageway intended for the gathering of high-goals pictures that will be utilized to construct a shape model of Bennu.
With the execution of AAM-4, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft concludes a six-week series of Bennu approach maneuvers. After a final correction maneuver scheduled for Nov. 30, the spacecraft will be on track to arrive at a position 12 miles (20 km) from Bennu on Dec. 3.