NASA has published images taken by the OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft on September 23, 2025. On that day, the spacecraft flew past Earth.
Source: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona/Lockheed Martin
OSIRIS-APEX was launched in 2016. The mission was originally called OSIRIS-REx. Its target was the near-Earth asteroid Bennu. The spacecraft studied it in detail for more than two years, taking soil samples. Then it set off on its return journey home. In September 2023, the capsule containing samples of asteroid material entered Earth’s atmosphere and made a successful landing at a test site in Utah.
The mission did not end there. Along with its new name, OSIRIS-APEX, the spacecraft was given a new target: the 350-meter asteroid Apophis. On April 13, 2029, it will make an extremely close flyby of Earth. This encounter is expected to affect the asteroid and cause landslides and collapses on its surface. OSIRIS-APEX will reach Apophis a week after its flyby of Earth and will study it in detail, along with the changes that have occurred.
Source: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona/Lockheed Martin
In order to reach Apophis, OSIRIS-APEX must perform three gravitational maneuvers. The first took place on September 23, when it flew 3,483 km from Earth. Mission specialists took advantage of this opportunity to test and calibrate the spacecraft’s instruments. The images transmitted by OSIRIS-APEX show both our planet and part of the spacecraft itself.
Source: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona/Lockheed Martin
It is worth noting that OSIRIS-APEX is among the missions that are at risk of being shut down if the current version of NASA’s budget proposal for next year is approved. At this point, it is unclear whether the team will be able to save the spacecraft or whether it will be shut down in the near future.
Provided by NASA
