Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

UnamedStreamNumber9 t1_j5ytgex wrote

Reply to comment by electric_ionland in Why do sample return missions such as OSIRIS-REx use their own reentry vehicles instead of just going to the space station for pickup and return with ISS equipment? by PromptCritical725

To add to that, the osris-Rex probe itself isn’t going to end its mission on return to earth. It’s just dropping off the reentry vehicle and heading back off into space where it will be targeted to flyby the asteroid apophis (the one that will have a very close earth encounter in the late 2020’s). This wouldn’t be possible if it slowed down to earth orbital speeds

1

electric_ionland t1_j5yukz7 wrote

Sure but AFAIK this was never a primary mission goal. It's just a nice bonus because they had the margins.

1