Thursday, September 01, 2016

Countdown to Bennu: T-Minus 7 Days Till OSIRIS-REx Lifts Off!

The payload fairing containing NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is now attached to its Atlas V launch vehicle at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida...on August 29, 2016.
NASA / Dimitri Gerondidakis

Only one week remains till an Atlas V rocket carrying NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft lifts off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida to begin a 7-year mission to and from asteroid Bennu! Here are photos from last Monday's operation that involved mating the payload fairing containing OSIRIS-REx to its Atlas vehicle at the launch pad. The excitement is brewing for next Thursday! Assuming, of course, the Florida weather cooperates that evening.

The payload fairing containing NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft passes by the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center in Florida...on August 29, 2016.
NASA / Dimitri Gerondidakis

At Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the payload fairing containing NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is hoisted inside the Vertical Integration Facility to be mated with its Atlas V rocket...on August 29, 2016.
NASA / Dimitri Gerondidakis

At Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the payload fairing containing NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is about to be mated to its Atlas V rocket inside the Vertical Integration Facility...on August 29, 2016.
NASA / Dimitri Gerondidakis

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