Liftoff of OSIRIS-REx: First U.S. Sample Return Mission to an Asteroid

On September 8, NASA launched the Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security - Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. OSIRIS-REx is the first U.S. mission to sample an asteroid. The spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at near-Earth asteroid Bennu in 2018, survey the asteroid's surface, retrieve at least 60 grams (2.1 ounces) of surface material, and return the sample to Earth in 2023 for study. Analysis of the sample will reveal the earliest stages of the solar system's evolution and the history of Bennu over the past 4.5 billion years.

Transcript

00:00:00 Mike Curie, NASA Launch Commentator: Ten seconds nine eight seven six five four.. three two one

00:00:12 And liftoff of OSIRIS-REx Its seven-year mission to boldly go to the asteroid Bennu and back. Marty Malinowski, ULA Atlas V Flight Commentator (inaudible) look good. Pump speeds and (inaudible) pressure Chamber pressures have plateaued. and have begun to ramp off. Mike Curie, NASA Launch Commentator: We're hearing the voice of Marty Malinowski. The Atlas has begun a pitch and yaw maneuver to steer to its planned 38.5 degrees inclination for the equator.

00:00:45 Marty Malinowski: SRB pressure is almost plateaued at this point (inaudible) pressures look good. Mike Curie, NASA Launch Commentator: 45 seconds into flight Marty Malinowski: Hold program is complete Boosters have throttled down Mike: The Atlas rocket carrying OSIRIS-REx has gone supersonic. We're standing by to pass to Max-Q Maximum aerodynamic pressure Marty: Max-Q Vehicle hydraulics continue to look good.

00:01:23 Mike: This is the point when the mechanical stress on the rocket reaches its peak because of the rocket's velocity and resistance created by the Earth's atmosphere. Marty: Signatures look good. Burn altitude is 14 miles. Downrange distance is nine miles. Current velocity 2,488 miles per hour. Range track shows vehicle traversing down the middle of the range. Mike: In about 30 seconds, the single solid rocket booster will be jettisoned at 2 minutes, 19 seconds Marty: And the booster has throttled backed down.

00:02:15 It's now 50 percent of its liftoff weight. Next major event will be SRB jettison. Coming up momentarily. Mike: And we see the solid rocket booster jettison. Marty: Separation looks good.