NASA’s OSIRIS-APEX Spacecraft Sends Stunning Earth Images

NASA’s OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft recently captured remarkable images of Earth during a high-speed flyby, propelling the probe toward the notorious asteroid Apophis. On September 23, 2025, the spacecraft flew just 2,136 miles (3,438 kilometers) above the planet’s surface, showcasing swirling clouds and vibrant blue oceans as continents passed below.

This significant mission, known as “Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security-Apophis Explorer,” serves as a follow-up to the successful OSIRIS-REx mission that returned a sample from the near-Earth asteroid (NEA) Bennu in 2023. NASA has redirected its focus toward Apophis, which is a metal-rich NEA significantly different from Bennu’s carbon-rich composition. Apophis was once considered a potential impact threat to Earth, heightening the importance of studying its characteristics.

Following the flyby, OSIRIS-APEX took a dramatic photograph of the moon from approximately 370,000 miles (595,000 kilometers) away. The images confirm that the spacecraft’s cameras and instruments are fully operational after years in deep space. The recent flyby utilized Earth’s gravity to accelerate OSIRIS-APEX, directing it toward Apophis, which will pass close to Earth on April 13, 2029.

Mission Objectives and Future Plans

During its upcoming approach, Apophis will come closer than many satellites orbiting Earth, allowing for significant gravitational interactions that could reshape the asteroid’s surface and alter its spin or orbit. OSIRIS-APEX is scheduled to arrive shortly after this encounter, marking the first mission to observe how an asteroid reacts during such a close planetary pass, according to the University of Arizona’s mission overview.

Once in orbit around Apophis, the spacecraft will spend approximately 18 months conducting detailed mapping and analysis of the asteroid’s composition. The mission aims to capture high-resolution images and potentially hover a few meters above the surface. By firing its thrusters downward, the spacecraft could disturb dust and expose previously hidden materials.

The recent images of Earth were taken using OSIRIS-APEX’s MapCam imager, which employs red, green, and blue filters, along with StowCam, capable of capturing both still and video imagery to ensure the safe storage of asteroid samples. As the mission progresses, OSIRIS-APEX will deliver trajectory updates and additional instrument checks, ultimately providing the first close-up views of Apophis.

The insights gained from studying Apophis may enhance our understanding of the evolution of near-Earth asteroids and their responses to gravitational forces, contributing valuable knowledge to the field of planetary science.