NASA Logo in the header
Sciences and Exploration Directorate 
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    "orgName": "Mesoscale Atmospheric Processes Laboratory",
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      "secondary": "climate"
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      "secondary": "acd"
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    "router": {
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      "secondary": "cryosphere"
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  },
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    "orgName": "Ocean Ecology Laboratory",
    "orgShortName": "Ocean Ecology",
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    "router": {
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      "secondary": "oceanecology"
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      "secondary": "hydrology"
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      "secondary": "biosphere"
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      "secondary": "terrestrialinfo"
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    "parentOrgCode": "610",
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      "secondary": "geodesy"
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      "secondary": "astroparticles"
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    "router": {
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      "secondary": "gravity"
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      "secondary": "cosmology"
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    "router": {
      "primary": "astrophysics",
      "secondary": "exoplanets"
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    "parentOrgCode": "670",
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      "secondary": "solar"
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      "primary": "heliophysics",
      "secondary": "heliospheric"
    }
  },
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    "orgShortName": "Geospace Physics Laboratory",
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    "router": {
      "primary": "heliophysics",
      "secondary": "geospace"
    }
  },
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    "orgName": "Space Weather Laboratory",
    "orgShortName": "Space Weather Laboratory",
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    "router": {
      "primary": "heliophysics",
      "secondary": "spaceweather"
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    "orgName": "Ionospheric, Thermospheric, Mesospheric (ITM) Physics Laboratory",
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    "parentOrgCode": "670",
    "router": {
      "primary": "heliophysics",
      "secondary": "itmphysics"
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  },
  {
    "orgName": "Solar System Exploration Division",
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    "orgCode": "690",
    "parentOrgCode": "600",
    "router": {
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      "secondary": null
    }
  },
  {
    "orgName": "Solar System Exploration Data Services Office",
    "orgShortName": "Solar System Exploration Data Services Office",
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    "parentOrgCode": "690",
    "router": {
      "primary": "solarsystem",
      "secondary": "dataarchives"
    }
  },
  {
    "orgName": "Astrochemistry Laboratory",
    "orgShortName": "Astrochemistry Laboratory",
    "orgCode": "691",
    "parentOrgCode": "690",
    "router": {
      "primary": "solarsystem",
      "secondary": "astrochemistry"
    }
  },
  {
    "orgName": "Planetary Systems Lab",
    "orgShortName": "Planetary Systems Laboratory",
    "orgCode": "693",
    "parentOrgCode": "690",
    "router": {
      "primary": "solarsystem",
      "secondary": "planetarysystems"
    }
  },
  {
    "orgName": "Planetary Magnetospheres Lab",
    "orgShortName": "Planetary Magnetospheres Laboratory",
    "orgCode": "695",
    "parentOrgCode": "690",
    "router": {
      "primary": "solarsystem",
      "secondary": "magnetospheres"
    }
  },
  {
    "orgName": "Planetary Geology, Geophysics & Geochemistry Lab",
    "orgShortName": "Planetary Geology, Geophysics & Geochemistry Lab",
    "orgCode": "698",
    "parentOrgCode": "690",
    "router": {
      "primary": "solarsystem",
      "secondary": "p3g"
    }
  },
  {
    "orgName": "Planetary Environments Laboratory ",
    "orgShortName": "Planetary Environments Laboratory",
    "orgCode": "699",
    "parentOrgCode": "690",
    "router": {
      "primary": "solarsystem",
      "secondary": "atmosenvironments"
    }
  }
]
Operational

OSIRIS-REx (OSIRIS-REx)

OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security--Regolith Explorer) launched September 8, 2016. It explored the Near Earth Asteroid (101955) Bennu in detail including with the Goddard-built OVIRS instrument. OSIRIS-REx collected a sample in October 2020 and returned it to Earth on September 24, 2023. This sample will help us investigate planet formation and the origin of life, and the data collected at the asteroid will also aid our understanding of asteroids that can impact Earth (Bennu is a potentially hazardous object with a 1-in-2,700 chance of impacting Earth between the years 2175 and 2199). OSIRIS-REx is led by PI Dante Lauretta of the University of Arizona and managed by GSFC.

Organizations
Launch Date
September 8, 2016
Class
Flight Project
Website
Key Staffs

OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security--Regolith Explorer) launched September 8, 2016. It explored the Near Earth Asteroid (101955) Bennu in detail including with the Goddard-built OVIRS instrument. OSIRIS-REx collected a sample in October 2020 and returned it to Earth on September 24, 2023. This sample will help us investigate planet formation and the origin of life, and the data collected at the asteroid will also aid our understanding of asteroids that can impact Earth (Bennu is a potentially hazardous object with a 1-in-2,700 chance of impacting Earth between the years 2175 and 2199). OSIRIS-REx is led by PI Dante Lauretta of the University of Arizona and managed by GSFC.

Related Publications

2026. "Nitrogen and intramolecular carbon isotopic measurements of β-alanine in samples from asteroid Bennu and the Murchison meteorite.", Communications Earth & Environment, [10.1038/s43247-026-04084-9] [Journal Article/Letter]

2026. "Post‐flight assessment of the OSIRIS-REx Sample Return Capsule (SRC) for organic and other potential contaminants.", Meteoritics & Planetary Science, maps.70221 [10.1111/maps.70221] [Journal Article/Letter]

2026. "Gradual Destruction of Refractory Stardust in Alkali Brines on Asteroid Bennu.", Nature Communications, [10.1038/s41467-026-76821-9] [Journal Article/Letter]

2026. "Reflectance spectroscopy (250–2500 nm) of an aggregate sample from asteroid (101955) Bennu.", Icarus, 460 117289 [10.1016/j.icarus.2026.117289] [Journal Article/Letter]

2026. "Visible, near‐, and thermal infrared spectra of asteroid Bennu samples: Relationship to and implications for remote sensing of carbonaceous asteroids.", Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 61 1788-1805 [10.1111/maps.70176] [Journal Article/Letter]

Contact Us

For general inquiries about the Sciences and Exploration Directorate.

Jocelyn Lynch

Project Support Specialist

301-286-6066 jocelyn.m.lynch@nasa.gov
Ellie Jeffries

Project Support Specialist

301-286-6066 ellie.jeffries@nasa.gov
Technical issues with this website may be reported to ben.pelletier@nasa.gov.
General inquiries about the scientific programs at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center may be directed to the Center Office of Communications at 1.301.286.8955.