Osiris Rex Launch


launch of Osiris Rex Mission

The Launch of the OSIRIS-REx Mission

The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft launched from Cape Canaveral on September 8, 2016. The mission will travel to asteroid Bennu, take a sample of the asteroid, and return the sample to Earth on September 24, 2023. The launch vehicle was an Atlas V rocket in the 411 configuration. This means the Atlas V used the 400 series launch vehicle with 1 solid rocket booster, and the upper stage had a single engine. The Atlas V 400 series launch vehicle can be configured with up to three solid rocket boosters. The Atlas V Centaur upper stage can be configured with either one or two engines. The first stage had an RD-180 engine fueled by kerosene and liquid oxygen, with a single strap-on solid booster rocket. The Centaur upper stage had an RL10 engine fueled by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.

The OSIRIS-REx launch left an exhaust trail in the sky that lingered for a long time afterwards. The Delta II rocket that was launched to carry the Phoenix spacecraft to Mars also left an interesting smoke trial.

This image was taken with a Canon EOS Digital Rebel SLR camera using a 300mm telephoto lens.


September 8, 2016
Image by Sid Leach
Cape Canaveral, Florida


Recent Images.
Complete list of images.
Description of equipment used to acquire images.
Home
Feedback and comments should go to Sid