24 Oct 2016

A number of PSI scientists were on hand to watch the launch of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft is designed to rendezvous with, study, and return a sample of the asteroid Bennu to Earth. Asteroids like Bennu are remnants from the formation of our solar system more than 4.5 billion years ago.

Above and below: OSIRIS-Rex blasts off from Cape Canaveral, Florida to begin its journey to the asteroid Bennu, where it is slated to secure a sample and return to Earth.