NASA MEDIA BFG ON MISSION TO RETURN ASTEROID SAMPLE TO EARTH, Aug 24, 2018, virtual, 2:00 pm ET (audiocast)

NASA will hold a media teleconference on August 24, 2018 at 2:00 pm ET to provide an update on its mission to return a sample of an asteroid to Earth.

The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-Rex) was launched on September 6, 2016 for a 2-year journey to the asteroid Bennu.  It is already close enough to begin imaging Bennu and is preparing to conduct the required maneuvers to rendezvous with the asteroid on December 3, 2018.  It synchronize its orbit with Bennu and scout for the best location to obtain up to three samples, a total of 60-2000 grams (2-70 ounces).  The window for the spacecraft to begin its journey back to Earth opens in March 2021 and the sample(s) will arrive back here in September 2023.  The sample return capsule will separate from the spacecraft and land at the Utah Test and Training Range.

Participants in the August 24 briefing are:

• Lori Glaze, acting director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters
• Dante Lauretta, OSIRIS-REx principal investigator at the University of Arizona, Tucson
• Michael Moreau, OSIRIS-REx flight dynamics system manager at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
• Sandy Freund, OSIRIS-REx mission support area manager at Lockheed Martin Space

Audio of the briefing will be streamed on NASA Live.