Uploaded October 2016 | Updated September 2026, 9 hours ago
After a year orbiting the sun, OSIRIS-REx will make a flyby of Earth in September 2017. Earth's gravitational field will pull the spacecraft towards the planet where it can "borrow" a small amount of Earth's orbital energy. This additional energy is used to increase OSIRIS-REx's orbital inclination and sling it into space for a rendezvous with the asteroid Bennu.
Credit: NASA Goddard
After a year orbiting the sun, OSIRIS-REx will make a flyby of Earth in September 2017. Earth's gravitational field will pull the spacecraft towards the planet where it can "borrow" a small amount of Earth's orbital energy. This additional energy is used to increase OSIRIS-REx's orbital inclination and sling it into space for a rendezvous with the asteroid Bennu.
Credit: NASA Goddard
