NASA’s Osiris-Apex Completes Stunning Earth Flyby en Route to Asteroid Apophis
NASA’s Osiris-Apex spacecraft has successfully used Earth’s gravity to slingshot toward its next target—the asteroid Apophis—capturing breathtaking views of our planet during the close approach.
Key Mission Details
- Spacecraft passed just 3,438 km above Earth on September 23
- Gravity assist sets up 2029 rendezvous with asteroid Apophis
- Mission will study asteroid changes during close Earth approach
The probe skimmed closer than many high-orbit satellites during its interplanetary trajectory, coming within about 2,100 miles of Earth’s surface. This critical maneuver adjusted the spacecraft’s path and speed around the Sun, setting up a complex orbital sequence that will culminate in the 2029 Apophis encounter.
Earth Imaging and Instrument Testing
As Osiris-Apex approached Earth, it turned its cameras homeward to collect images and fine-tune its science instruments. A new video sequence assembled from 424 individual frames shows the spacecraft’s instrument deck with Earth rotating below over the Atlantic Ocean, with South America visible at the edge of the view.
Mission Heritage and Future Goals
Osiris-Apex is the extended-life successor to Osiris-Rex, which successfully delivered samples from asteroid Bennu to Earth in 2023 before heading back into deep space. The current mission represents NASA’s continued exploration of near-Earth asteroids.
The spacecraft will study how Apophis changes during its exceptionally close flyby of Earth in 2029, monitoring alterations to the asteroid’s surface and spin characteristics. This research will provide valuable insights into asteroid behavior and planetary defense.
Instrument Capabilities
StowCam, previously used as an engineering camera to confirm Bennu sample containment, now provides clear views of the instrument panel. The camera reveals the Canadian Space Agency’s Osiris-Rex Laser Altimeter, which created high-resolution 3D maps of Bennu and will support detailed investigations of Apophis during the upcoming encounter.
