NASA’s OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft recently captured remarkable images of Earth during a high-speed flyby, marking a significant milestone as it heads towards the asteroid Apophis. This event occurred on September 23, 2025, when the probe approached within just 2,136 miles (approximately 3,438 kilometers) of the planet’s surface, showcasing swirling clouds and vast oceans in stunning detail.
During the flyby, OSIRIS-APEX, which stands for “Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security-Apophis Explorer,” provided a unique view of Earth. The spacecraft’s cameras revealed intricate patterns of weather and geography as it sped away from the planet. The following day, OSIRIS-APEX captured a breathtaking image of the moon, positioned about 370,000 miles (around 595,000 kilometers) from Earth, emphasizing the probe’s advanced imaging capabilities.
Mission Overview and Goals
OSIRIS-APEX is the successor to NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission, which successfully returned samples from the near-Earth asteroid Bennu in 2023. This new mission aims to reach Apophis, a stony, metal-rich asteroid that presents a contrasting scientific profile to Bennu’s carbon-rich structure. Notably, Apophis was once considered a potential threat to Earth, but its trajectory has since been clarified.
The recent images confirm that the spacecraft’s systems are functioning optimally after years in deep space. The flyby utilized Earth’s gravity to enhance the probe’s velocity, redirecting it toward Apophis, which will make a close encounter with Earth on April 13, 2029. This approach will position the asteroid nearer than many satellites orbiting the planet. The gravitational forces during this event may alter Apophis’s surface, spin, or even its orbital path.
Scientific Exploration Ahead
Following its arrival at Apophis, OSIRIS-APEX is set to spend approximately 18 months studying the asteroid. The spacecraft will conduct detailed mapping, examine its composition, and capture high-resolution images. Mission planners are eager to explore the surface further, aiming to hover just a few meters above it and use the probe’s thrusters to uncover hidden materials beneath the asteroid’s dust.
The images of Earth were obtained through the spacecraft’s MapCam imager, which employs red, green, and blue filters, in addition to its StowCam, capable of both still and video imagery. These tools are crucial not only for scientific observation but also for ensuring the safe storage of asteroid samples collected during the mission.
As OSIRIS-APEX continues its journey, it will provide trajectory updates and perform ongoing instrument checks. This mission promises to yield invaluable insights into how near-Earth asteroids respond to close planetary encounters, enhancing our understanding of these celestial bodies and their evolution over time.
