NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission to an asteroid launched from Kennedy Space Center on September 8, 2016. As part of the mission, the spacecraft will collect a sample from the asteroid Bennu before sending the capsule of material back to Earth. NASA scientists, launch managers, and spacecraft engineers gathered at Kennedy Space Center to witness the launch of the ULA Atlas V rocket carrying OSIRIS-REx spacecraft and the start of the mission.
The ULA Atlas V rocket carrying the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft begins to rollout to the launchpad at Kennedy Space Center. Photo: Michael Galindo/Cosmic ChicagoThe Atlas V rocket carrying the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft to the asteroid Bennu approaches the launchpad at Kennedy Space Center. Photo: Michael Galindo/Cosmic ChicagoThe Atlas V rocket for the OSIRIS-REx mission reaches the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center. Photo: Michael Galindo/Cosmic ChicagoThe OSIRIS-REx mission logo decorates the payload fairing on the Atlas V rocket that will carry the spacecraft to orbit. Photo: Michael Galindo/Cosmic ChicagoChristina Richey, OSIRIS-REx deputy program scientist at NASA Headquarters, Jason Dworkin, OSIRIS-REx project scientist at Goddard, and Daniella DellaGiustina, OSIRIS-REx lead image processing scientist at the University of Arizona, Tucson, answer media questions during an OSIRIS-REx science briefing at Kennedy Space Center. Photo: Michael Galindo/Cosmic ChicagoChristina Richey, OSIRIS-REx deputy program scientist at NASA Headquarters uses a model of Bennu while addressing the press at Kennedy Space Center. Photo: Michael Galindo/Cosmic ChicagoDante Lauretta, the OSIRIS-REx principal investigator at the University of Arizona, Tucson addresses the media ahead of launch. Photo: Michael Galindo/Cosmic ChicagoA model of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. Photo: Michael Galindo/Cosmic ChicagoA view of the science instruments and payloads on the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. Photo: Michael Galindo/Cosmic ChicagoLiftoff of Atlas V and the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. Photo: Michael Galindo/Cosmic ChicagoAtlas V clears the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center for the OSIRIS-REx mission. Photo: Michael Galindo/Cosmic ChicagoLaunch of the OSIRIS-REx mission to the asteroid Bennu. Photo: Michael Galindo/Cosmic ChicagoThe Atlas V rocket carrying the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft launches to the asteroid Bennu. Photo: Michael Galindo/Cosmic Chicago
This article was previously published on Cosmic Chicago for ChicagoNow.
