Planets and Moons ID: 13123

Bennu Orbit Insertion

Released on December 31, 2018

On December 31, 2018, OSIRIS-REx completed its Preliminary Survey of asteroid Bennu and entered into orbit. Bennu measures only half a kilometer in diameter, making it the smallest world ever to be orbited by a spacecraft. OSIRIS-REx will spend the Orbital A phase learning to navigate in Bennu’s low gravity, which must be balanced against other small forces acting on the spacecraft (like solar radiation pressure), and it will transition from stellar navigation to landmark-based navigation. When OSIRIS-REx completes the Orbital A phase in March 2019, it will begin its Detailed Survey of Bennu. Learn more about Bennu orbit insertion.

For More Information

NASA.gov

Credits

Producer:
Dan Gallagher (USRA)

Videographers:
Rob Andreoli (Advocates in Manpower Management, Inc.)
John Caldwell (Advocates in Manpower Management, Inc.)

Data Visualizer:
Kel Elkins (USRA)

Animators:
Michael Lentz (USRA)
Walt Feimer (KBR Wyle Services, LLC)
Adriana Manrique Gutierrez (USRA)

Editor:
Dan Gallagher (USRA)

Interviewees:
Kenny Getzandanner (NASA/GSFC)
Coralie Adam (KinetX)

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center