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OSIRIS-REx (http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/osiris-rex/index.html)

Oct. 1, 2018

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Executes First

Asteroid Approach Maneuver

(/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/osiris-rex-
deep-space-maneuver.png)
Illustration of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft during a burn of its
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main engine.
Credits: University of Arizona

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft executed its first Asteroid Approach Maneuver (AAM-
1) today putting it on course for its scheduled arrival at the asteroid Bennu in
December. The spacecraft’s main engine thrusters fired in a braking maneuver
designed to slow the spacecraft’s speed relative to Bennu from approximately 1,100
mph (491 m/sec) to 313 mph (140 m/sec). The mission team will continue to
examine telemetry and tracking data as they become available and will have more
information on the results of the maneuver over the next week.

During the next six weeks, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will continue executing the
series of asteroid approach maneuvers designed to fly the spacecraft through a
precise corridor during its final slow approach to Bennu. The last of these, AAM-4,
scheduled for Nov. 12, will adjust the spacecraft’s trajectory to arrive at a position 12
miles (20 km) from Bennu on Dec. 3. After arrival, the spacecraft will initiate asteroid
proximity operations by performing a series of fly-bys over Bennu’s poles and
equator.
 Nancy N. Jones
Office of Communications, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
301-286-0039
nancy.n.jones@nasa.gov (mailto:nancy.n.jones@nasa.gov)

Erin Morton
Office of the Principal Investigator, University of Arizona
520-269-2493
morton@orex.lpl.arizona.edu (mailto:Morton@orex.lpl.arizona.edu)

Last Updated: Oct. 2, 2018

Editor: Rob Garner

Tags:  Asteroids (/mission_pages/asteroids/main/index.html), Bennu

(https://www.nasa.gov/bennu), Goddard Space Flight Center
(/centers/goddard/home/index.html), OSIRIS-REx (Origins Spectral Interpretation
Resource Identification Security Regolith Explorer)
(http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/osiris-rex/index.html), Solar System
(/topics/solarsystem/index.html)

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