NASA’s OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft has successfully captured striking images of Earth during a high-speed flyby on September 23, 2025. This maneuver marked a crucial step in the probe’s journey toward the infamous asteroid Apophis. The spacecraft flew approximately 2,136 miles (3,438 kilometers) above Earth, showcasing the planet’s swirling clouds and vast oceans.
The images reveal detailed views of Earth’s surface, highlighting continents and weather patterns as the spacecraft sped past. Just a day later, OSIRIS-APEX took a dramatic photograph of the moon from about 370,000 miles (595,000 kilometers) away, according to a statement from NASA. These visuals are a testament to the probe’s operational capabilities after years spent in deep space.
Mission Overview and Goals
OSIRIS-APEX, which stands for “Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security-Apophis Explorer,” represents the second phase of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission. This previous mission successfully returned samples from the near-Earth asteroid (NEA) Bennu in 2023. Following that achievement, NASA redirected OSIRIS-APEX towards Apophis, a metal-rich NEA that provides a contrasting scientific perspective to the carbon-rich Bennu.
The September flyby served a dual purpose; it not only captured breathtaking images but also utilized Earth’s gravity to enhance the spacecraft’s speed and trajectory toward Apophis. The asteroid is scheduled to make a close approach to Earth on April 13, 2029, coming nearer than many satellites currently orbiting the planet. This proximity may allow Earth’s tidal forces to reshape Apophis’s surface and alter its spin or orbit.
Scientific Significance of the Flyby
Once OSIRIS-APEX reaches Apophis, it will be the first mission to observe how an asteroid responds to a close planetary encounter. The spacecraft is expected to spend approximately 18 months in orbit around the asteroid, mapping its surface, analyzing its composition, and capturing high-resolution images.
Additionally, mission planners aim to hover just above Apophis’s surface, using the spacecraft’s thrusters to disturb dust and reveal previously hidden materials. This process could provide valuable insights into the asteroid’s composition and history, contributing to our understanding of how such bodies evolve in space.
The images of Earth were taken using the spacecraft’s MapCam imager, which employs red, green, and blue filters for detailed photography. OSIRIS-APEX also utilizes StowCam, capable of both still and video imagery, to ensure the safe storage of collected asteroid samples.
As the mission progresses, OSIRIS-APEX will continue to send back trajectory updates and perform instrument checks. The anticipation builds for the first close-up views of Apophis, as scientists hope to learn more about the dynamics of near-Earth asteroids and their interactions with gravitational forces.
The successful capture of these images marks a significant milestone in the OSIRIS-APEX mission and underscores NASA’s commitment to advancing our understanding of the solar system.
