NASA – Page 97 – Spaceflight Now

Live coverage: Atlas 5 countdown and launch journal

September 8, 2016 Justin Ray

The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral at 7:05 p.m. EDT (2305 GMT) today to send NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft on a seven-year, 4.4-billion-mile mission to rendezvous with Asteroid Bennu and bring a sample of the primordial object back to Earth. Follow the mission in our live journal.

Photos: OSIRIS-REx on pad to begin voyage to Bennu and back

September 7, 2016 Justin Ray

Headed to a relic from the solar system’s formation over four billion years ago, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx sample return craft was moved to Cape Canaveral’s Complex 41 launch pad today in preparation for liftoff Thursday aboard an Atlas 5 rocket en route to Asteroid Bennu hoping to find the seeds of life.

Photos: Atlas 5 rocket rolls out to launch asteroid sampling probe

September 7, 2016 Justin Ray

Poised to embark on a 7-year adventure to Asteroid Bennu and back, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx sample return spacecraft was moved to the launch pad today aboard its Atlas 5 rocket for liftoff Thursday evening.

Atlas 5/OSIRIS-REx launch timeline

September 7, 2016 Justin Ray

Follow the Atlas 5 rocket’s ascent from Cape Canaveral’s Complex 41 launch pad to send NASA’s OSIRIS-REx on an interplanetary trajectory to intercept Asteroid Bennu and bring back a pristine sample. Launch is scheduled for Thursday at 7:05 p.m. EDT (2305 GMT).

Photos: Asteroid probe encapsulated, mounted atop Atlas 5 for launch

September 7, 2016 Justin Ray

Technicians inched the two halves of the Atlas 5’s aluminum nose cone around NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft to package the asteroid sample return probe, then moved the satellite to the rocket’s assembly building and hoisted it aboard the two-stage booster during the final days of August for the Sept. 8 launch.

Video: Atlas/OSIRIS-REx pre-launch and mission science press briefings

September 6, 2016 Justin Ray

Watch the Atlas 5 rocket and OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return spacecraft pre-launch news conference and the mission science briefing held on Launch-minus 2 days at the Kennedy Space Center.

Atlas 5 rocket cleared to launch NASA probe to Asteroid Bennu

September 6, 2016 Justin Ray

Mission leaders Tuesday gave approval for rollout of the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket to its pad on Wednesday morning, leading to liftoff Thursday evening of a NASA probe to rendezvous with an asteroid and bring a sample back to Earth.

Preview: NASA craft launches Thursday seeking the seeds of life on asteroid

September 5, 2016 Justin Ray

What began as a concept scribbled on a cocktail napkin in a Tucson bar 12 years ago — sending a spacecraft to an asteroid and retrieving a pristine sample to bring back to Earth for study — becomes reality Thursday with the launch of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission.

Weather forecast favorable for Atlas 5 to launch NASA asteroid probe Thursday

September 4, 2016 Justin Ray

Prognosticators are predicting favorable weather conditions to launch an Atlas 5 rocket Thursday and send NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft on its interplanetary journey to interrogate an asteroid and collect a surface sample for return to Earth.

Asteroid probe apparently unharmed in nearby SpaceX explosion, passes its FRR

September 2, 2016 Justin Ray

NASA says initial checks show no damage to the Atlas 5 rocket or the agency’s asteroid-bound OSIRIS-REx spacecraft that stood within the Vertical Integration Facility just a mile away from the SpaceX explosion Thursday.